By: Mordicai

 

Uforia has almost everything I like in a movie: grifting, interstate car theft rings and charlatan tent evangelists. I also have a sweet place in my heart for movies staring former cast members of ‘Laverne and Shirley;’ then throw in Fred Ward and some UFO cult shenanigans and, really, what’s not to like?  I had a few cocktails before watching this one, so even Cindy Williams was looking pretty good (I know, I know.)

 

Fred Ward plays Sheldon, a two-bit hustler who meets up with old partner in crime Brother Bud and bilk the gullible of their hard earnings with that old “spiritual healing” routine. Their income stream is threatened when Arlene (Cindy Williams,) a loony, born-again check-out girl (who believes that Jesus came to Earth in a flying saucer) becomes wise to their con. Sheldon solves the problem by moving in with her. Who knew this would turn into a love story?

 

Always the con artist, Sheldon starts off manipulating his new lady, but before you can say “schlamiel schlimazel,” he finds himself begrudgingly helping her spread the word about an impending alien visitation. Arlene is plagued by dreams that a “noah’s ark” from space is on its way and she alone is the chosen prophet. Brother Bud catches wind of this and joins them in organizing a new kind of revival. Of course, things become complicated once people start to fall for it…

Harry Dean Stanton steals every stubbly, hard drinking second he graces the screen like so many dollar bills from his parishioners’ pockets. He delivers a sturdy, low-key performance. His presence elevates the film; the man is a living legend - one of the greatest performers of this or any generation.

 

This is how L. Ron Hubbard got his start.

 

Fred Ward, years before he charmed the world in Remo Williams: the Adventure Begins, squints, boozes, and rolls his eyes through the film in a performance reminiscent of a young Warren Oates. Cindy Williams does fine in a stretch for her, playing a nutty girl looking to land a man. The director John Binder was also a writer on the semi-autobiographical Willie Nelson film, Honeysuckle Rose. The smoky barroom of a soundtrack features fine mood music from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr. and Roger Miller.

Bros before UFO's

 

The film has a definite message, so be extra careful that you don’t accidentally learn a lesson – that it’s important to believe in something, anything - whether that be in God, UFOs, or Harry Dean Stanton. It’s a comic rendition of the old Close Encounters story, a humorous Heaven’s Gate. Definitely an odd ensemble, but in this odd movie, everybody finishes their chores. Uforia is in no rush to get where it’s going, but its originality and wry, subtle humor carry the film.

 

I can’t say anything particularly bad about this strange little film, it floats along, buoyed by the strongly tongue-in-cheek performances, but I can’t exactly rave about it either. It’s like if your aunt gave you a Hershey’s Kiss that had been living for a while at the bottom of her purse – not great, but you really can’t complain. All in all, not a bad way to kill a rainy afternoon while you’re waiting for the mothership.

 

 

Rating: 2 1/2 Condom Dispensers

 

 

 

 

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Aw, hell.