Review of Alien Nation (1988) by Thomas B — 07 Mar 2013

In 1988, a spaceship carrying an enslaved alien race crash-lands in the Mojave Desert. Three years later, the aliens now known as the "Newcomers" (or "Slags" to human racists) have been intergrated into Earth society. The movie is set in Los Angeles, California.

"LAPD Police Detective Matthew Sykes" (James Caan) and his partner are patroling the area of "The City of Angels" known as "Slag Town" when they come to a "Newcomer"-owned convenience store that is being robbed by heavily armed "Newcomers", who have a human look-out. The partner is killed by powerful artillary that is loaded into the weapon of one of the "Newcomers". Just before backup arrive on scene, the one who killed "Sykes'" partner gets away.

The next day, "Sykes'" captain announces that a "Newcomer" has been promoted to the rank of Detective, and asks for volunteers to show him the ropes. The "Newcomer" is "Sam Francisco" (Mandy Patinkin), one of the officers who came as backup to "Sykes" and his now dead partner. "Sykes" builds up the courage and volunteers to take "Francisco" as a partner. After learning his partner's full name, "Sykes" nicknames his new partner "George". The newly named "George" then informs his new partner that in his native language, "Sykes" is the combination of two words that makeup "sh-t head".

"Sykes" decides that the two will go after who killed his deceased partner. After a few leads, the two wind-up at a chemical plant where "Newcomers" are employed because their race has a tolerance for methane gas. The detectives then begin to unravel an alien drug ring which involves well-respected "Newcomer" businessman "William Harcourt" (Terence Stamp).

There are a few verbal jokes, many of which "Sykes" and "Francisco" bounce off one another. "Sykes" is a streetwise veteran cop, while "Francisco" would rather follow regulations to the letter. The performances of Caan and Patinkin makes their characters a great "odd couple" on-screen.

"Newcomer" makeup is well done and pretty convincing. All "Newcomers" are portrayed in a way that makes you forget they are extraterrestrials until they speak in the "Newcomer" language. The entire movie is well-paced with just enough action to get the story over with the audience. And the story advances quite nicely to get to the resolve of all the subplots.

In the end, "Sykes" and "Francisco" not only become closer partners, but close friends.

Unfortunately, the writer of the movie forgot that this is science-fiction. Instead you get a typical cop movie where one of the cops is bent on bringing in those responsible for the death of his partner and getting a drug off the streets. Despite that one flaw, the movie is not bad and pretty much deserves it's cult status.