UFOria

I haven't seen this gem in years, which is my loss. I came to IMDB hoping to see that it was out on DVD. Alas, no. The characters are funny and quirky (not Hollywood phony-quirky) and the story unfolds organically. Having grown up in the 1960s, there were moments that made me laugh out loud in recognition.

Two in particular: Toby (Darrell Larson) a wide-eyed hippie-innocent and his wife are cuddling their newborn son. Toby asks her "Do you think JesusKrishnaBuddha is too heavy a name for him?" Later, when supermarket checker Cindy Williams asks him if he believes in flying saucers. He replies, with a beatific smile, "I believe in everything." It's a great companion line to the hippie in Louis Malle's "Atlantic City," who is cautioned to buckle her seatbelt on the airplane and replies sincerely, "Oh, I don't believe in gravity."

It took the producers of "Uforia" five years before they could find a distributor willing to release it. My guess is that distributors couldn't think of an easy way to market a movie that is very unconventional and doesn't follow an easy-to-report formula. This is a character-based movie, not really one with a substantial plot, but don't let that discourage you from giving the movie a try. The characters are not only all likable, they all have various quirks that make them interesting to watch talking and interacting with each other. As a bonus, the movie has a great country and western soundtrack (and I normally dislike that music genre!) The only real flaw the movie has is the very ending, which seems out of place for a movie that otherwise focuses on characters. But despite that ending, this movie is a gem well worth your time.

As far as i can tell, the only two options for watching this movie is to either find a 30+ year old VHS copy, or watch the low quality VHS rip on YouTube. It feels like I have looked everywhere, but unfortunately thats the only two options i found. I even tried a long shot and messaged John Binder himself to hear if there really is no better way to watch this, but I guess he thought my message was spam (never heard from him).

So how is the movie? Better than expected, but definitely unusual and with plenty of cult potential. Its better than a B-movie and quite stylistic, but it is very sort of low key. The characters are original and well acted, and the country music sound track is something for itself. The comedy is quite subtle, and not of the ba-dum-tss kind of jokes where you know when and what the funny part is. It was sometimes hard to hear the dialog and see what was going on, and sometimes it did not feel like the progression in the story was very well explained, but that "old VHS tape uploaded to YouTube" thing did absolutely nothing good for the quality which most likely explains that. I dont think UFOria would ever have become a blockbuster, even if it had seen a better release, but it certainly deserves better than the dust bin. Should be a no-brainer to pull it out and release it on the numerous streaming services available now.

I would love to rewatch it if i ever come across it in DVD quality or better.

Sheldon Bart (Fred Ward) is a con-man drifter. Cashier Arlene Stewart (Cindy Williams) looks the other way when he shoplifts grocery. He reconnects with his traveling preacher friend Bud Sanders (Harry Dean Stanton) and performs in a fake healing. The homeless Sheldon starts sleeping and living with Arlene. He dismisses her obsession with UFOs as craziness at first. She dreams of a spaceship landing and gains a following with fellow UFO enthusiasts. Sheldon and Bud use their preaching skills for their own gains.

This is built like an indie with a bunch of quirky characters. It's an odd little movie with some usual characters played by veteran actors. Cindy Williams never got to be a big movie star. She does these weird little comedies. This low budget story does meander a little. This has an unique appeal from filmmaker John Binder although his humor doesn't always hit its mark.

I watched this on youtube (illegally, but where else can you see it). I heard of it years ago. If better known, it would be considered a minor classic. It's similar to Melvin & Howard or other early Jonathan Demme movies. It's funny, always interesting, got a great soundtrack, good performances all around, a thoughtful quote worthy script, and unlike a lot of similar "indie" quirky movies that came later, it never puts it's small town characters down for their goofy beliefs or marginal lifestyles. Check out UFOria and tell your friends. It's amazing that a major studio made it. The director sadly never made another feature as a writer director. He's got a good light touch, and Cindy Williams holds her own as a movie star.