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Tim Burton professes a love for those tacky science fiction flicks of the '50s, which became the motivation for this satire. He's less than subtle with the design of the invading fleet; with the exception of their landing gear, the flying saucers in this film look precisely like those found in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), perhaps in tribute to Ray Harryhausen. In the production notes we learn that his inspiration came from Topps SciFi bubblegum cards, a weighty tome indeed.

Burton manages to entice a remarkable (and apparently disposable) ensemble cast to join the effort. Jack Nicholson may be seen in two roles, first as the pompous President James Dale and then cleverly disguised as the sleazy con man with delusions of grandeur, Art Land (come to think of it, both characters have delusions of grandeur). Glenn Close is the egocentric First Lady Marsha Dale; she's allowed her exalted position go to her head. Somewhat more laid back is their teenage daughter, Taffy Dale, played by Natalie Portman. Annette Bening portrays Art's wife, Barbara Land, an alcoholic who's desperately trying to find her spiritual side.

Pierce Brosnan pokes a little fun at himself as the self-assured Professor Donald Kessler, scientific advisor to the president. Danny DeVito is wasted as the Rude Gambler, and has little more than a cameo. Martin Short is the sexually addicted Press Secretary Jerry Ross. Sarah Jessica Parker is brainless talk show host Nathalie Lake. Her boyfriend is Jason Stone, a newscaster played by Michael J. Fox. Rod Steiger replicates George C. Scott's Strangelove role of General Buck Turgidson, here named General Decker. Bomb first, ask question later is his approach; he'll be proven quite right when the president defers to the more laid back approach of General Casey (Paul Winfield).

Tom Jones plays himself; he's such a caricature that parody is not required. Jim Brown is Byron Williams, as ex-world champion boxer reduced to wearing an ancient Egyptian costume and to play the role of greeter at a Las Vegas casino. His wife is Louise Williams, portrayed with all seriousness by Pam Grier. In the middle of the Southwestern desert we find Lukas Haas as Richie Norris, a nice kid with parents from Hell, like his dad, played by Joe Don Baker as a gun totin' right-wing fanatic. More sympathetic is his grandmother, Florence Norris, portrayed by Sylvia Sidney. She holds the unlikely key to the defeat of the invaders. Richie's brother, Billy Glenn Norris (Jack Black), is in the service and volunteers to be at the first landing, much to the disappointment of his horny girlfriend, Sharona (Christina Applegate).

These folks will find themselves the target of Martian malevolence and mindless destruction as the invaders systematically fire on anything that moves. Few will survive to the closing credits. Burton and screenwriter Jonathan Gems are so sly that the underlying comedy of this satirical romp may be too subtle to evoke a hearty laugh. Smiles abound, but the humor simply doesn't garner enough giggles. The single funniest bit in the show may be Natalie's Chihuahua onboard a saucer after... I should say no more.

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