The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

Lily Tomlin recreates her Tony-winning, one-woman Broadway show from 1985 for the screen, which received a limited theatrical run before appearing on Showtime (the film's production company) and picking up two Emmy nominations. Written by her partner Jane Wagner, Lily is featured both on-stage and in-costume as several different characters all on a quest to find the answers to Life. The film gets off to a funny start by misspelling "Intelligent" in the opening titles, but then stumbles a bit trying to find a compatible visual style for Tomlin's personality changes. The dryly witty lines delivered by the comedienne's incarnations come so fast that the ones you hope to quote are obliterated in your memory soon after by a topper (this is both pro and con). Of Tomlin's cast of characters, Trudy the Bag Lady is the least amusing (are bag ladies ever funny?). Still, there are universal truths here that should resonate with those attuned to Tomlin and Wagner's absurdist humor--if you can catch the cleverness on the fly. ** from ****