Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Visit to a Small Planet Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 31, 2017

1960 was a big year for Jerry Lewis, welcoming the release of “Cinderfella” and “The Bellboy,” which was the comedian’s directorial debut, inspiring greater control over his movies. Arriving earlier in the year was “Visit to a Small Planet,” which has the distinction of being a silly Jerry Lewis comedy that originated as a Gore Vidal play. The Vidal-ness of it all has been scrubbed away, but the theatrical presentation remains, with the sci-fi comedy very static and exaggerated. The production itself wants to compete with Lewis’s rubbery performance, making this oddball romp with a literally untouchable alien more loud than funny, though the star can always be counted on to make a satisfying mess of scenes.

Lewis portrays Kreton, an alien being who’s endlessly curious about the Earth, finally ready to visit and spend some serious time with the locals. The set-up is basic, permitting Lewis to do his thing as Kreton discovers the magic of tobacco and booze, love and panic, and interacts with local Beatniks, wowing the original hipsters with a nightclub performance. There are supporting characters to keep Kreton busy, but most of “Visit to a Small Planet” remains with Lewis, soaking up his cartoon reactions to everyday Earthly delights. Helping the cause are crude but effective special effects, including a rotating room to sell the image of Kreton walking on the ceiling of his host family home.

Visit to a Small Planet Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Visit to a Small Planet" is billed as "newly re-mastered," giving Lewis's antics renewed clarity for its Blu-ray debut. Detail is welcome throughout, with the story mostly contained to sets, offering textured background decoration and costumes, while the actors are clearly defined, helping with slapstick encounters. Delineation is strong and whites are settled. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in fine shape, without pronounced areas of damage.

Visit to a Small Planet Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't contain any surprises, but it supports the goofy antics quite well. Dialogue exchanges are fresh and loud, capturing performance nuance and slapstick speeds, though with all the yelling, missing any lines would be impossible. Scoring also adds volume, and instrumentation is strong. Crisper percussion is found during the Beatniks showdown. Sound effects are basic but effective.

Visit to a Small Planet Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian James L. Neilbour.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Visit to a Small Planet Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Visit to a Small Planet" isn't especially uproarious, but Lewis is engaged, working like crazy to make simple ideas blossom with comic chaos. The picture isn't profound, and doesn't seem to represent what Vidal originally intended, but it's a minor romp with a few strange encounters and a cast that's always ready with a bug-eyed reaction.