The American sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live has spawned some blockbuster movies – The Blues Brothers(1980) and Wayne’s World(1992), for instance – but this Dan Aykroyd creation sank without trace.
Aykroyd is reunited with old TV colleagues Jane Curtin (best known for the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun) and Laraine Newman for this dismal comedy about a family of aliens (Aykroyd, Curtin and Michelle Burke) trying to get to grips with life on Earth.
Beldar (Aykroyd ) and Prymaat (Curtin) were meant to conquer Earth, but when a wrong turn at Machu Pichu crash lands them in the middle of New York’s East River, they find themselves stranded and forced to assimilate into mainstream America.
The coneheads find safe haven in Paramus, New Jersey, where they become typical hard-working parents raising their 16-year-old daughter Connie (Michelle Burke).
The coneheads fit in surprisingly well with their “bluntskull” neighbours in suburbia until they are targeted by an unscrupulous Immigration Service official.
Despite cameos from younger generation Saturday Night Live comics, such as The Wedding Singer‘s Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, plus an appearance from Spinal Tap‘s Michael McKean, the characters are long past their sell-by date, and Aykroyd and co sadly fail to recapture past glories.
Beldar
Dan Aykroyd Prymaat
Jane Curtin Seedling
Michael McKean Connie
Michelle Burke Turnbull
David Spade Ronnie
Chris Farley Larry Farber
Jason Alexander Lisa Farber
Lisa Jane Persky Otto
Sinbad Khoudri
Shishir Kurup Dr Rudolf
Jon Lovitz Marlax
Phil Hartman Laarta
Laraine Newman Coach
Ellen DeGeneres Highmaster
Dave Thomas
