Strange Planet

Three women - three men, the two groups leading separate lives, all seeking or avoiding or lamenting romance... the three women are flatmates: Judy (Claudia Carven) is trying to avoid entanglements with older married men by focussing on a career, side-tracked for a brief moment for promotional purposes by Hugo Weaving, Alice (Naomi Watts) is not willing to venture out into the hetero world, in contrast to Sally (Alice Garner) who`s excited about life and wants to embrace it... the men work together in a legal firm... Ewan (Tom Long) is a careless womaniser who gets a major case of ennui and drops out, Joel (Aaron Jeffrey) is devastated at the break-up of his marriage, and Neil (Felix Williamson) is just desperate to connect with anyone...This film follows the separate experiences of these six, and shares their conversations with one another as they discuss life and love. It seems to reflect a credible alienation of the sexes, but there`s a lack of credibility in some of the situations, it`s naturally diluted by the number of protagonists. However, it`s a film that tries to base itself on a reality and say something about heterosexual relationships these days... Naomi Watts gives a beautifully understated performance as Alice and Felix Williamson is delightful as the questing Neil... Comparisons are always odious, but perhaps Strange Planet lacks the bravado and freshness of Love and Other Catastrophes, it`s more conventional, and less satisfying even though it`s obvious that Croghan is a more sophisticated filmmaker with this latest film... David`s comments: Though it`s absolutely no advance on Love and Other Catastrophes, Strange Planet charms because of its immensely likable characters and its winning performances. The three women, especially, are terrific - Claudia Karvan, Naomi Watts, Alice Garner - all create real, flawed, love-seeking characters. Of the men, Felix Williamson is outstanding as the rather nerdy one. No real surprises here - just a thoroughly likable film.