What Planet Are You From? (2000)

In "What Planet Are You From?" (2000), a peculiar alien operative, Harold Anderson, arrives on Earth with a mission of profound, if awkward, importance: to impregnate an Earthling and secure his planet's dominance from within. Fashioned with a unique, humming mechanical appendage designed for reproductive purposes, Harold’s attempts at seduction are hilariously inept. His journey to find a suitable mate takes an unexpected turn when, on the advice of a colleague, he ventures into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and meets Susan. Against all odds, he manages to convince her to marry him, setting in motion a ticking clock for his mission, his potential burgeoning emotions, and the fate of his unborn child and Earth itself. This film, while a departure from many of Mike Nichols' earlier celebrated works, showcases his enduring talent for blending sharp social commentary with outright absurdity. Nichols masterfully navigates the delicate balance between comedy and pathos, using Harold’s alien perspective to satirize human courtship rituals and societal expectations surrounding relationships and procreation. The film's exploration of emotional awakening and the unconventional path to connection, filtered through the alien's literal-mindedness and the inherent strangeness of his mission, aligns with Nichols’ consistent interest in the complexities of human interaction and the often-unpredictable nature of love and desire. While not as overtly dramatic as some of his masterpieces, "What Planet Are You From?" still bears Nichols' signature wit and a keen eye for the absurdities of the human condition, making it a worthy, if unique, addition to his directorial legacy.