Great performances, great social comment, funny and great music. Saw it over twenty years ago at a film festival in country Australia. Everybody I spoke with really enjoyed it. I would love to see it again. It would be very interesting to see how the social comment in the movie stands up today I also consider it to be a minor classic.

The title is no less silly than anything else in this disarming, oddball comedy, which sat on a shelf for half a decade because (most likely) its low budget charm is so at odds with Hollywood's megabuck mentality. No one will ever mistake it for a great film, but it's hard to resist a movie drawn around such eccentric characters, including charlatan preacher Harry Dean Stanton, lovable con artist and Waylon Jennings wannabe Fred Ward, and naïve supermarket cashier Cindy Williams, who only wants to warn people about the imminent return of Noah's extraterrestrial ark. Add the usual quota of Western small town dreamers and drifters and you have, literally in a nutshell, a modest and enjoyable diversion that (thankfully) doesn't take itself too seriously.

UFOria is among the strangest films I've ever encountered, but, frankly, I'm better for knowing it. Like True Stories, Raising Arizona, or Repo Man, it occupies that uncategorizable category of films that appeared during the 1980s--a little surreal, a little funny, and a little confusing. Of course, it's also a little great. Plot? I'm not entirely sure it's important to point out what the film's three characters accomplish (not much), but it is important to point them out: Arlene, a woman who dreams of flying saucers and awaits their arrival, Brother Bud, a con artist, and Sheldon, a good old boy. There is a story, and it's bizarre, but those three individuals (emphasis on that word) are the film's sole purpose. As much as anything can be, UFOria is a character study. And what does one need for a character study? Great actors. Fortunately, UFOria has them in spades. Cindy Williams is perfect as Arlene, so hopeful and faithful, and Fred Ward is great as Sheldon. For those that have seen Tremors, please know that that performance was simply a reprise of this one. Finally, we come to that master of American cinematic acting--Harry Dean Stanton. I could warble endlessly about his virtues and world-weary visage. I won't wax poetic. As he does in virtually every movie he appears, Harry knocks your socks off and makes you happy to watch him work. UFOria is not for every taste; it's completely off its rocker, but it's worth it if you can let yourself go. Fans of those aforementioned masterpieces of the 1980s should enjoy this little movie tremendously, if they can find it.

This amiable piece of Americana was unfortunately not given a decent release, and it took until 1986 for this film to get released in repertory cinemas and find its audience.Cindy Williams (Arlene) is charming as ever as a born-again Christian grocery store clerk who believes salvation will be coming to earth in a flying saucer. Fred Ward is a drifter who takes up with her and while using her for his benefit, falls for her as well. Harry Dean Stanton as Brother Bud teams up with Ward to exploit the space theory and start tent revivals on the predicted landing sight, charging admission and gathering more donations. Now Brother Bud seems to have a side job that involves hauling hot cars, so that brings in the interest of the law as well. Poor Arlene, it seems everyone has taken this thing way out of proportion and fears they'll lose their true faith and mission. And how will it be resolved? Well, you know something special has to appear and save the day!This is an amiable film, with plenty of likeable characters whether they are good and sweet or downright cons. Cindy Williams steals the show with her naive Arlene always reading the tabloids and committed to spreading the good news of Jesus' return from space. Sure, you learn a few things about the nature of man, right and wrong, and sticking to what you believe, but golly, it just leaves you so darn happy and smiling after it's all over. It will make you feel good about yourself too.Uforia is still available on VHS and is a nifty title to have in a collection--it's a film you can show to friends and they will definitely be surprised and thank you for it. That's the experience I've had, and after all these years the film's story and cleverness holds up well.