Mars Attacks! (1996) Rated PG13 Starring: Jack Nicholson, Rod Steiger, and Pierce Brosnan Rating: out of

A massive fleet of Martian ships is gathering in orbit around the Earth. President Dale (Jack Nicholson) consults his advisors to see what course of action he should take. Should he nuke 'em or should he welcome them as friends? Listening to his science advisor (Pierce Brosnan), who says that any technologically advanced civilization is obviously peaceful, he arranges to meet their ambassador in the Nevada desert. Of course, the President doesn't actually go. He sends his Chief-of-staff (Paul Winfield) to do the job for him. And the Martians land, exchange pleasantries with the humans, and begin blasting everyone in sight with ray guns.

Mars Attacks! takes nothing seriously, including itself. It's packed with stars as diverse as Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox and Tom Jones. It's full of wonderful special effects and sight gags. It's also full of stuff that should have landed on the cutting room floor.

This is a potentially hilarious film but Burton seems unsure of which way to take it. One minute, it's a laugh riot; the next, it's a poor parody of movies such as Independence Day. When it sticks to the aliens making complete fools of human beings, Mars Attacks! is a blissfully funny movie. A scene of the aliens, wearing translators around their necks, screaming "Don't run! We are your friends!" as they destroy Las Vegas is great fun.

The movie bombed at the box-office during its Christmas run last year, but it should find success on video. It's really not anywhere near as bad as you might think. Give it a shot. Just remember, it's a little schizophrenic.

Trivia: Warren Beatty was originally cast as the President. (Source: The Internet Movie Database)