Just Jeff: Earth Girls Are Easy
Reviews of Jeff Goldblum’s performances in films
by Susan Panaway
Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Directed by Julien Temple
Love is in the air…and so is an orange blimp spaceship with fuzzy space men riding inside. Sound bizarre? Well, welcome to Earth Girls Are Easy. Valerie (Geena Davis) is a totally tubular manicurist preparing for her wedding with Ted (Charlie Rocket) aka Dr. Love. Turns out that Ted is prescribing his love to many patients. Down on her luck, Valerie decides to do what most scorned women living in L.A. would do...get a tan. As she lounges about in a string bikini, a vibrant spaceship (very similar to Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice award) crash-lands into her pool. Wiploc (Jim Carrey), Zeebo (Damon Wayans) and Mac (Jeff Goldblum) are located inside.
When Mac first appears on screen, he’s covered in blue fur and hibernating in a tube. Typical Goldblum behavior. The three aliens are then shaved and dressed in trendy California threads. Valerie is stunned by Mac’s physique. Mac has his shirt unbuttoned or is shirtless for a good portion of the film.
While Wiploc and Zeebo search Sunset Strip for “babes,” Mac focuses on one woman. Me. Uh…I mean Valerie. Mac expresses his passion by saying “I could make Valerie happy." Swoon. Mac’s smooth voice and honey-like charm win Valerie over. Cut to the bizarre love scene. Valerie and Mac kiss on the mouth a few times then stare longingly into each other’s eyes. Valerie has a horrific nightmare following the sexual encounter. By horrific, I mean terrific. It’s probably my favorite scene from the movie. Please stop reading this and look it up now. I’ll wait……Okay great. When Mac later asks the question, “Am I Mr. Right?”, Valerie responds with several yeses. Yes Mr. Goldblum. The answer is always yes.
If you are looking for a piece of cinematic mastery, this definitely isn’t it. However, if you like gratuitous bikini shots, a black and white science fiction nightmare, and a shirtless Jeff Goldblum*, give it some screen time.
*If you’re not into shirtless Jeff Goldblum, “JUST JEFF” is probably not for you.