So So Gay
The planet Otz’s ozone is disappearing. The cause: ‘big feelings’ rising into the sky and eating away the atmosphere. The government quickly implements a programme to send ‘big feeling’ offenders to Earth to learn how to get their hearts broken and stop their emotions being released into the filament. Zoinx (Susan Ziegler) soon meets Jane (Lisa Haas), a socially awkward Earthling who works in a New York stationery store, and strikes up a deep romantic relationship. But will she learn how to have her heart broken, and does she even want to?
Madeleine Olnek’s comedy, evoking a black and white 1950s B-Movie, is inspired. The abysmal production values are knowingly part of the comedy and also make for some great gags. But it also means that Olnek and her fantastic comic cast can focus on bringing in the laughs.
And bring in the laughs they do. Reminiscent of, but superior to Coneheads, Olnek’s aliens’ awkward attempts to assimilate into Earthling culture and look for love and heartbreak are hilariously written. Everything, from the monotone and deadpan robot-like dialogue, ingenious comic set ups, to the awkward application of English, is just fantastic. Not to mention the bizarre and giggle-inducing exchanges between the ‘men in black’ as they stake out Jane and the aliens. Not one joke misses the mark or falls flat. Every one is a hoot.
However, Olnek also finds the time to bring a sweet and truthful examination of relationships – inter-alien or otherwise – through her side-splitting comedy. There are also some wonderfully touching and affectionate moments that really strengthens what’s already one of the funniest films of this year, making it a really well-rounded movie.
The performances are also all excellent, but it’s Ziegler that really stands out, not only delivering her lines with prefect timing, but managing a side splitting physical performance too.
There is absolutely nothing to fault in this supreme intergalactic farce and is a triumph of a closing film for the Iris Prize Festival 2012. It will have you crying tears of laughter and begging for more cheesecake.
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same received its UK Premier at the Iris Prize Festival 2012, which ran in Cardiff between 10-14 October 2012. It is available on DVD from 26 November 2012 and can be purchased from Amazon UK and Play.
