PHIL THE ALIEN

I went to see Phil the Alien on Saturday, September 11th. This charming and very funny movie helped take my mind of off the fact that it was the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This was the freshman debut of write, director and star Rob Stefaniuk, and that man is FUNNY. Sure, the story was a little far fetched, with Phil being taken in by a talking beaver (voiced by SCTV alumnis Joe Flaherty), getting chased by an agent and an assassin (Madame Madame) from the Top Secret American UFO Base located under Niagara Falls; being jailed for intoxication and finding Jesus, which (of course) leads to singing Christian rock with a bar bad while levitating and quoting the gospels. Phil the Alien also features a classic rock tune from Rush and such quintessential Canadian pursuits as drinking, hunting and trapping.

I ended up sitting one row in front of the cast of the movie, and two seats over from Rob Stefaniuk himself. He seemed slightly embarassed during the Question and Answer session after the movie, as if surprised that the audience enjoyed the movie so much. I even earned a commemorative "Phil the Alien" bottle-opener for asking a question. There is no hard release date in Canada or the United States.

I can't wait for this movie to be released in North America.. I wonder how many Americans will think that killer whales and belugas live underneath Niagara Falls?