UFOria (1981)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Excellent but underrated film

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Blistering performances.

Sheldon Bart (Fred Ward) is a con-man drifter. Cashier Arlene Stewart (Cindy Williams) looks the other way when he shoplifts grocery. He reconnects with his traveling preacher friend Bud Sanders (Harry Dean Stanton) and performs in a fake healing. The homeless Sheldon starts sleeping and living with Arlene. He dismisses her obsession with UFOs as craziness at first. She dreams of a spaceship landing and gains a following with fellow UFO enthusiasts. Sheldon and Bud use their preaching skills for their own gains.This is built like an indie with a bunch of quirky characters. It's an odd little movie with some usual characters played by veteran actors. Cindy Williams never got to be a big movie star. She does these weird little comedies. This low budget story does meander a little. This has an unique appeal from filmmaker John Binder although his humor doesn't always hit its mark.

I watched this on youtube (illegally, but where else can you see it). I heard of it years ago. If better known, it would be considered a minor classic. It's similar to Melvin & Howard or other early Jonathan Demme movies. It's funny, always interesting, got a great soundtrack, good performances all around, a thoughtful quote worthy script, and unlike a lot of similar "indie" quirky movies that came later, it never puts it's small town characters down for their goofy beliefs or marginal lifestyles. Check out UFOria and tell your friends. It's amazing that a major studio made it. The director sadly never made another feature as a writer director. He's got a good light touch, and Cindy Williams holds her own as a movie star.

I haven't seen this gem in years, which is my loss. I came to IMDB hoping to see that it was out on DVD. Alas, no. The characters are funny and quirky (not Hollywood phony-quirky) and the story unfolds organically. Having grown up in the 1960s, there were moments that made me laugh out loud in recognition.Two in particular: Toby (Darrell Larson) a wide-eyed hippie-innocent and his wife are cuddling their newborn son. Toby asks her "Do you think JesusKrishnaBuddha is too heavy a name for him?" Later, when supermarket checker Cindy Williams asks him if he believes in flying saucers. He replies, with a beatific smile, "I believe in everything." It's a great companion line to the hippie in Louis Malle's "Atlantic City," who is cautioned to buckle her seatbelt on the airplane and replies sincerely, "Oh, I don't believe in gravity."

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.