Androids, clones, aliens, pod people. All non-human, at least in the biblical sense. Almost 30 years have passed since this avant garde comedy came and went, a variation of movie plots that went back to the silent age. Yet strikingly original, this Susan Seidelman has a lot going for it even if this had been done hundreds of times whether in comedy, science fiction or serials.
Cult actress Ann Magnuson is smart, attractive and successful, but a dud with men. She becomes involved in business dealings with wacky scientist John Malkovich who has created an android that looks exactly like him, and a series of wacky adventures has Magnuson getting in over her head as she teaches android Malkovich all about life...and love.
Practically stealing the film is future "Roseanne" co-star Laurie Metcalf as a love-starved young lady who has a major crush on Malkovich the scientist and ends up on a truly bad date with Malkovich the android. To toss in some class, Polly Bergen is present as Magnuson's opinionated mother.
Charming but unremarkable, this checks the viewer into a future we can only pray is false. The actors are all likable and the swift direction helps this fly by, but it hasn't achieved the cult status that this certainly deserves. There are many amusing moments including one where a Jewish coat salesman makes an interesting observation when a naked Malkovich bares all to him and Magnuson without shame.
Cult actress Ann Magnuson is smart, attractive and successful, but a dud with men. She becomes involved in business dealings with wacky scientist John Malkovich who has created an android that looks exactly like him, and a series of wacky adventures has Magnuson getting in over her head as she teaches android Malkovich all about life...and love.
Practically stealing the film is future "Roseanne" co-star Laurie Metcalf as a love-starved young lady who has a major crush on Malkovich the scientist and ends up on a truly bad date with Malkovich the android. To toss in some class, Polly Bergen is present as Magnuson's opinionated mother.
Charming but unremarkable, this checks the viewer into a future we can only pray is false. The actors are all likable and the swift direction helps this fly by, but it hasn't achieved the cult status that this certainly deserves. There are many amusing moments including one where a Jewish coat salesman makes an interesting observation when a naked Malkovich bares all to him and Magnuson without shame.