Objectif Terre: L'invasion est commencée

You've seen every single element of this movie before. Perhaps not in exactly the same order as presented here, but from the opening shot the plot is as predictable as the taste of a Big Mac. The only surprise is John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Dabney Coleman as the inevitably corrupt Senator. There is even the little girl and her rag doll, the police captain, the main protagonist who is seen as a joke on the force, etc etc.

The script reads like a term paper. (First term).

Yet if you're willing to laugh at it (there's no opportunity to laugh with it), it comes across as a classic in its B-movie genre, instantly forgettable but watchable after 1am.

For its humble scale and ambition this is a credible effort in storytelling and acting by some seasoned stars. The plot is reasonably gripping/tense at times and will hold your attention. CGI aliens or spaceships are eschewed in favour of 1950's tropes such as paranoia and brainwashing. Enjoyable!

In Springfield strange things occur: Voice grade channels explode, an unknown, flying object appears and throws light beams on a house. On the next day Tammy disappears. She is found hours later by the policeman Sam in its garden. The six-year behaves very strangely.

Aliens plan to take over the world, by gradually activating implants in people at various levels of society (inserted, as we all know, during the multitude of 3-day abductions that have been visited on America's Mid-West since the 1950's science fiction boom). One man, a police detective, can save the world, but is so dull that the alien invasion becomes a more and more attractive prospect as the film goes on.

The opening scene has the location typed out at the bottom-left of the screen, showing clearly its lineage from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" via the X-Files. Don't expect a moment of tension, except perhaps the decision on when to have your next cup of tea, but worth a watch if the alternative is ironing a shirt for the next morning. It is, however, slightly redeemed by the bald, stary-eyed, Hank Williams-loving baddie, who has the few lines in the film worth putting in something better.

4.3/10 is generous. My biggest problem with this movie is being able to predict scenes 20 minutes in the future. My young daughter and I watched it together, and at first I was ready to change the channel if it got too scary. She had the remote, however, and during commercials kept changing channels. She nearly feel asleep before the "climax", which occurred with about 30 seconds left in the movie. The last 10 minute set of commercials came on and then the wrap up: big plot hole here, but you'll have to watch it to find out.

As far as being nominated for B movie status, I would reserve that for movies that were intended to be good, but turned out to be turkeys. This one seemed destined for mediocrity from the start.