PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Coneheads is a comedy science fiction film that was released in 1993, and based on the popular sketch from Saturday Night Live (SNL), the long-running American sketch comedy show. In addition to the film itself being a slice of nostalgia, it actually has a “TMNT” connection, as it was directed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) director Steve Barron. Produced by Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, Coneheads was also based on the screenplay by Dan Aykroyd, Tom Davis, Bonnie Turner, and Terry Turner.
So let’s look at part of what makes Coneheads better than it’s often given credit for!
Plot Summary For Coneheads
The movie revolves around a family of extraterrestrial beings known in Earth translation as Coneheads, who come from the planet Remulak. The main characters are Beldar Conehead (played by Dan Aykroyd), his wife Prymaat (played by Jane Curtin), and their daughter Connie (played by Michelle Burke). The Coneheads crash-land on Earth in their UFO, and they try to blend in with human society to avoid detection by the government, which they do surprisingly well despite their obvious uniqueness.
Beldar and Prymaat take on the identities of “Donald” and “Mary” respectively, and they get jobs and become members of their suburban community. As the story progresses, Beldar tries to repair their damaged spaceship while trying to adapt to human culture and customs. Meanwhile, they grapple with the merits of continuing the initial plan of conquering Earth versus simply leading ordinary lives to accommodate their daughter’s interests in normal teenage stuff.
So, even though it’s a zany comedy, there are strangely some actual issues involved in the storyline. In fact, one writer for the CUNY Academic Commons, Zayna Marjieh, notes that “the movie clearly examines issues of immigration, Americanization, and assimilation that were present in 1993, and are still very present today…While the comedic aspects of the film distract from the underlying depth of the subject matter at hand, the realistic and ever-present societal issues that are represented in the film are strikingly obvious and will always remain relevant.”
Some Interesting Reasons Why Coneheads Works
There are many reasons to say about Coneheads: “Hmm, I liked that movie more than I thought I would.” If you really want to be comprehensive, you might look into the “life is stranger than fiction” tie-in with conspiracy theorists online, who once theorized that some elongated Peruvian skulls were actually alien (“Check the eye sockets 100% alien,” someone had mused about the images). USA Today has debunked such claims, noting that the elongated features are actually culturally induced through “artificial cranial deformation,” with an expert noting that “Prehispanic peoples on the south coast of Peru and elsewhere in Peru have engaged in this practice for thousands of years…Deliberate head shaping is a form of cultural modification of the body that marks different things, like one’s identity, a rite of passage, (or) an occupation.”
However, a simpler reason to enjoy Coneheads is simply that it’s…well, enjoyable. In some ways, the story riffs on the premise of culture clashes and different customs, and Beldar sort of plays the role of the strict parent who defends his values along the lines of “Things have always been this way” or “God (or gods) wish it so.” The Coneheads face numerous comical situations as they try to navigate life on Earth, often causing hilarity due to their awkwardness and odd behavior.
A writer for The Guardian has defended the film, noting that SNL has other beloved films, such as Wayne’s World (which, if you ask most fans, has surprisingly stood the test of time on re-watches). The Guardian article also notes that The Blues Brothers movie is recognized by the Library of Congress as a “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” work.
The film also features Chris Farley, David Spade, Phil Hartman, and Adam Sandler in supporting roles, who were prominent SNL cast members at the time. Another star, Michael McKean, would go on to join the cast of “Saturday Night Live in 1994. Also, notably for Seinfeld fans, Coneheads features both Michael Richards and Jason Alexander.
Final Thoughts
Coneheads received mixed reviews from critics but found a small fanbase over time, especially among fans of the original SNL sketches. The movie is known for its quirky humor and the iconic, eye-catching cone-shaped head design of the alien characters. The Coneheads characters have become a part of popular culture, and the film remains a nostalgic piece for fans of ’90s comedy and SNL enthusiasts, as well as those who generally enjoy “It Came from Outer Space” kind of stories. If you enjoy lighthearted and offbeat comedies with a science fiction twist and aren’t demanding a thriller, Coneheads might be worth checking out!
