Suburban Commando

Suburban Commando is a 1991 science-fiction comedy film that brings together an iconic ensemble cast, graced with the acting prowess of wrestling superstar, Hulk Hogan, renowned actor Christopher Lloyd, known for his Back to the Future series, and the talented Shelley Duvall of the Shining fame. The film is an interesting foray into the unknown abyss of outer-space adventures, sprinkled generously with laughable moments and awash with an undercurrent of unexpected friendships that entertain audiences of all ages.

Directed by Burt Kennedy and written by Frank Cappello, Suburban Commando starts us off with an opening scene well anchored in a typical action-movie cliché – a seasoned, interstellar bounty hunter, Shep Ramsey (played by Hulk Hogan) is assigned a mission to apprehend a notorious, intergalactic warlord named General Suitor. Hulk Hogan successfully projects himself as a fearless fighter with a booming voice and an intimidating persona, meant to bring down the mightiest of enemies with style. His stunts and fight scenes are a spectacle that harp back to his wrestling ring aura, with plentiful thrills and jaw-dropping sequences that has his fans rooting for him.

On the other side of the universe, we have Charlie Wilcox played by Christopher Lloyd. Charlie stands as a perfect foil to Hulk Hogan’s boisterous charisma. Caught in the throes of suburban monotony, he’s an architect who dreams of grandiosity but is stuck in a job where his designs are continually overlooked and his potential wasted. Struggling to assert himself in his professional life and keep the spark alive in his personal life, he presents a relatable figure of a common, suburban man.

The paths of these two highly contrasting characters meet when Shep's spaceship runs out of power and he's forced to land on planet Earth, specifically in the garage of Charlie’s suburban home. Posing as a renter, he shakes up the quiet suburban life that Charlie and his wife Jenny Wilcox, played by the endearing Shelley Duvall, have built. Shep brings his formidable alien persona into the midst of mundane suburban life, and in doing so, exposes Charlie and his family to a series of humorous and incredibly misinterpreted happenstances.

Shelley Duvall’s character, Jenny, brings a homely charm to the film. Her character is largely focused on managing her family and the interesting dynamics that follow when Shep arrives. She brings a certain comedic sense to her role and lends a layer of warmth and depth to the movie narrative.

Suburban Commando brings a distinctive mix of sci-fi elements, action and comedy. Whether it's Hulk Hogan mistaken about the normal suburban life, or Christopher Lloyd grappling with unexpected space age elements, the movie delivers many a chuckle. Another unique aspect is the subtle development of camaraderie and understanding between Hogan's and Lloyd's characters. As the film progresses, we watch how, in spite of their wildly mismatched personalities, Shep and Charlie recognize the strengths in each other and learn to co-exist – bringing about some character growth.

The film is a rollercoaster ride with scenes filled with fresh humor, subtle satire on suburban life and includes thrilling spaceship encounters. The special effects and spaceship design give the film a genuine sci-fi feel and the performance of the lead actors make it an endearing watch.

The comedy doesn’t necessarily shy away from the occasional predictable situation, but it's this predictability that adds to the light-heartedness of the movie. Despite the film’s affinity towards cheesiness, Suburban Commando can be enjoyed as a lighthearted 90s popcorn flick, where the charmingly awkward interaction between Hogan's burly space warrior and Lloyd's meek suburbanite takes center stage, backed by a background of sci-fi intrigue and sprinkled with a modest dusting of suspense; an engaging feature-film experiment of blending suburban life with elements of science fiction.

In essence, Suburban Commando is a tale of two completely separate worlds colliding, a clash of the titanic and the tame. Without trying too hard, this slice of 90's cinema managed to carve its own fun niche that's amusingly alien, oddly grounded, and merrily memorable.