Chewin' bubblegum and Kickin' ass, what more to life is there? I would say very little, except when for the times you run out of gum and discover through a pair of sunglasses that half the people surrounding you are actually aliens.
This is the basic plot of They Live, John Carpenters darkly comedic tale of alien takeover that also doubles as an satire about commercialism and greed in 1980's America. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper stars as George Nada who discovers the alien plan and single-handedly has to take them down . Sure he gets some help from Frank Armitage (Keith David) but it's pretty much Piper's show the whole movie.
Political points aside They Live is not a film meant to be taken very seriously, Carpenter keeps it comedic with very little sense of dread throughout. The centerpiece is a long street fight between George and Frank that was later parodied in the South Park episode "Cripplefight." The special effects have not aged all that well but they do fit in with the tone of the movie. The acting is as good as can be expected when Piper is your lead. To his credit he delivers a good performance, with equal parts smart-ass and bewilderment at his situation.
They Live is a nice addition to Carpenter's catalog, but it likely isn't necessary viewing for anyone outside of it's fanbase. It's a fine way to waste a couple hours but aside from a few moments it's not totally memorable.
Rating: 3/5
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