Milton Robinson (Ben Kingsley) is an unassuming man leading a mundane life. He’s a 78-year-old widower and retiree with two adult children he seldom sees. So, he spends his free time attending city council meetings, voicing the same demands day after day.
But one night, something extraordinary invades Milton’s ordinary life when a flying saucer crashes into his backyard and crushes his precious azaleas.
Unfazed by the otherworldly visitation, Milton goes about his daily business until the craft’s tiny gray occupant (Jade Quon) crawls outside and collapses in his backyard.
He selflessly welcomes the mysterious alien (named Jules) inside his home and nurses it back to health, and the duo develops an improbable bond. Suddenly, Milton experiences the companionship he’s been lacking while fostering unlikely friendships within his community.
But not everyone is capable of seeing the kindness within Jules, and Milton struggles to keep him a secret from those who mean him harm.
Jules is a wonderfully strange sci-fi film featuring flying saucers, mysterious government agencies, and a psychic extraterrestrial. But at its core, it’s a straightforward and emotionally grounded dramedy.
It explores themes of aging, enduring fading relationships with loved ones, and the challenges of connecting with the people around us. Specifically, it delves into the universal desire to be seen and heard and how society often diminishes the value of its aging members.
What sets this film apart is director Marc Turtletaub’s decision to defy expectations for this genre. Usually, a film like Jules would be some type of Odd Couple-style buddy comedy where an alien teaches a crochety old loner what it means to be human. You know the drill; lots of miscommunications and zany alien hijinks.
Fortunately for viewers, Jules takes a different path.
Turtletaub uses Jules as a blank slate. He never speaks, barely gestures, and rarely attempts to communicate. But Jules is the perfect listener, capable of hearing one’s thoughts and fears without judgment or interruption.
The stoic little alien is the perfect companion for a generation of elders who often go unheard. The film comments on what it’s like growing old in a society that values youth and beauty over wisdom and experience.
When Milton tells people a UFO crashed in his backyard, nobody believes him. It’s an unfortunate reminder of how easily we dismiss the knowledge of our the folks with the most life experience.
Jules is a total pleasure, but it’s a strange sell on paper. And you need a lead actor who makes viewers see real life reflected within this wacky story. Fortunately, Ben Kingsley is in top form. And that’s crucial because he spends much of this movie sitting alone in small rooms or conversing with a stoic little creature.
Kingsley’s performance is the engine driving this film. He can say more with a subtle glance than most actors can deliver with an entire page of dialogue. His convincing performance grounds this out-of-this-world story in relatable earthbound stakes, which leaves you invested in the characters and the decisions they’re forced to make.
Parts of the film do feel underdeveloped. It’s a 90-minute film that feels like a 45-minute film. That’s not a knock; it means I wanted to spend more time learning about the characters and their world. It’s narratively sleight but emotionally rich.
Jules touches on many UFO-related topics without going in-depth on any of them. It covers government disinformation campaigns, crash retrieval programs, and even a secret underground agency. I would have liked to see these details fleshed out further, but the film blows by all the standard sci-fi tropes to focus on Milton’s very down-to-earth issues.
What’s most remarkable about the film is how it examines such sombre issues while still feeling light and breezy. Credit the charming cast, Volker Bertelmann’s enchanting score, and Turtletaub’s compassionate vision behind the camera.
Jules is a consistently entertaining commentary on our innate need to be heard and how genuine connections enrich our lives. It’s a wistful and uplifting look at ageing and the importance of making every moment count.
And even if you’re not into science fiction, consider giving Jules a shot because it’s one of the most grounded out-of-this-world tales you’ll ever see.
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