Sally Marshall Is Not an Alien

After a very full day, my daughter and I stumbled across a movie on the family channel. Honestly being close to midnight, I may not have been the most receptive to a production like this as I may have been during a Sunday afternoon. For me a family movie is one where we can all sit and enjoy a story-line regardless of age. Little ones are engaged and adults are tossed occasional thoughts that potentially too mature (but harmless) for younger viewers. "Sally Marshall Is Not an Alien" is not such a movie.

My teenager chose for us to slug through this one, and as another reviewer commented it is better after struggling through the first 30-40 minutes. It was interesting than even my daughter was frustrated by the foolishness of the young characters in this story. This could be a pleasant viewing time for an 8-11 years old, but older than that you would be more entertained doing the dishes (and more productive). Why this was presented late at night was confusing -- maybe the programmer had nothing else available.

In an oceanfront community in Australia, Pip (Helen Neville) is often bullied by the reigning "princess" of the neighborhood, Rhonnie (Thea Gumbert). Its true that Pip can hold her own pretty well and she has an admirer-friend in Ben (Glenn McMillan). Alas, Ben is often an object of Rhonnie's scorn, too, as he has to wear hand-me-downs from his five raucous sisters, and all of the other kids concede everything to the princess. One day, Pip reaches a breaking point. Therefore, when Rhonnie offers a bet, Pip's telescope versus Rhonnie banished from the playground for a month, Pip takes the challenge. But, ho, the stakes are nearly impossible. A new gal in school, Sally Marshall (Natalie Vansier), is so weird when she reads books upside down and never takes off her sunglasses, so they call her an alien from a bizarre planet. Its Pip's job to PROVE that she is a typical earth girl. Wow! With her camera, Pip is ready to take pictures of normalcy, yet Sally's garden does have tomatoes the size of soccer balls. Pip soon realizes that the best way to win her bet is to befriend Sally. Before long, Sally and Pip become close, pleasing Sally very much as her mother is deceased and she is lonely. But, when it becomes obvious that Sally has never tasted ice cream or swam in water, Pip begins to have doubts HERSELF that Sally is a human being! What will be the outcome of the bet? This sweet Aussie flick has some good lessons on bullying and loyalty. After a minute or two, the Down Under dialect is easy to understand while kids are kids everywhere. Neville is quite good in the leading role, reminding viewers of Hayley Mills and Jodie Foster. Gumbert, Vansier, McMillan and all the rest are quite fine as well. The ocean setting is wonderful while the glimpse into Aussie buildings, costumes, and sights is nice. Although quite unusual, the script/story is a surefire winner while the direction, a bit slow, keeps the tale flowing well enough. Made over 15 years ago, the ideas are timeless so please your loved ones with a family film which will have everyone clapping.

What a wonderful movie for young people! The message in the movie is relevant to our times: judging people (and that works both ways, unfortunately, not just on one side). The acting by the main characters isn't bad, but the writing could have used some editing. The plot was weird, to say the least, and the story simplistic, but the preteen crowd could appreciate it. It also has a wonderful ending. The filming took place in near a beach somewhere in Australia, and the scenes are uplifting to see the waves and the sand. I recommend watching this movie on a cold, dark winter's night, when the movie's scenery will be appreciated. A good uplifting film for the family.

Reading the other two comments, I had to wonder if I had seen the same movie!

Perhaps life is drastically different in Australia, but, wow - call it sci-fi or fantasy, but people just don't act like this.

I couldn't pass up this review without commenting on it myself.. it gets better after the first half hour, but I doubt most could make it that far..

Yikes.

This movie has a good positive story line. It is telling us to love one another and not to hate someone that you do not know just because they seem strange. I thought the ending was good. Some surprise! One must know that feelings are contagious. If you love,others will love; but if you hate, others will hate also!