As was pointed out previously by Rahb17, this has a lot of the early Twilight Zone television episode, Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?(May 21,1961). A mixture of 'visitors' watching, plotting and waiting while all around (including other aliens)are clueless. Also, however, I would like to point out that this is skillfully combined with the irreverence applied to work in Office Space(1999) and offering as well several romances taking place in cubicles and available copy/storage rooms much to the frustration of Pete the office manager. While James Urbaniak takes on a benevolent dictator demeanor as Pete, he's no Gary Cole and the same can be said of Jonathan M.Woodward's lead not being as acidic as Ron Livingston, however, we don't really need a carbon copy of Office Space to make this a fun movie. The plot breaks away on its own well enough to allow fleshing out of the Jim Belushi style delivery Mr. Woodward offers us (SPOILER) tag-teamed by a charismatic Samm Levine as his concerned 'alien' best friend,sans the bicycle. Angela Bettis on the other hand has an original believable grace which can easily have you rooting for her by the end as she grows into emotions, a thing not easily received by her species, and falls in love with Brian. All of this ends up neatly tied together with Dave Allens wonderful rendition of the Philo character from UHF (1989) getting things back together chronologically. This little gem is a must see for fans of all the above mentioned 'contributors' and everyone who just likes fun, quirky films.
9 Reviews
Awful PowerPoints and cubicle farms are fair game in Drones
jp757022 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
***Some spoiler alerts***
Think that guy next to your desk might be an alien? Think the girl in the copy room talking to the Xerox machine might be from another planet? You might be right!
DRONES has the vibe of OFFICE SPACE (1999), combined with a little Twilight Zone thrown in for good measure. The birthday cake scene in both DRONES and OFFICE SPACE is painful to watch, for those of you who have experienced that. For good measure, DRONES throws in a company-composed birthday song. Yikes!
There is also a parallel running joke - OFFICE SPACE had its TPS reports, while DRONES has the company database that is being changed from chronological to alphabetical. (Minor point: when you search a network server or database, you can sort it anyway you like, so this issue was really pointless.)
Actors/directors Benson and Busch have put together a nice little indie comedy, but they could use a bit more seasoning and experience. At 98 minutes, DRONES feels long. It might have worked better as a 60-minute TV piece.
All of the scenes takes place in the same drab, all-too-familiar office. There is NO visual variation - this might have been a creative choice, but it could also be done as a simple stage play, requiring very little in set design.
The cast is populated mostly by unknowns, with a few recognizable character actors (Samm Levine, Angela Bettis, and James Urbaniak). Jonathon Woodward brings a sort of Nathan Fillion-vibe to the Brian character, and Angela Bettis as Amy is believable as not being from this planet. The lack of "celebrities" works in this film's favor.
Some technical issues may have been a result of the directors' relative inexperience, or perhaps they were creative choices. Some scenes linger a little too long in the shot, creating awkward moments. Sometimes characters are not in-frame, but the camera eventually pans/tilts to capture the actors. If these were creative choices, they came off more as annoyances.
If you are expecting sci-fi CGI from the aliens, you will be sorely disappointed. Except for a very brief special effects scene (only a few seconds of green light FX), there are no CGI scenes. The aliens are completely human-looking, and you will see no spaceships, explosions, tech gear, or ray guns.
That is likely a budget decision, but it also hearkens back to such TV fare as MY FAVORITE MARTIAN to MORE & MINDY to THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, and others. Effects were few and far between, aside from a few unusual costumes or a crudely built "spaceship".
DRONES is worth a viewing, but lacks long-lasting memorable scenes that made OFFICE SPACE a "classic" (the latter wasn't particularly big at the box-office either, but it did find an audience in numerous cable viewings). Perhaps DRONES will have an second life on cable as well.
Think that guy next to your desk might be an alien? Think the girl in the copy room talking to the Xerox machine might be from another planet? You might be right!
DRONES has the vibe of OFFICE SPACE (1999), combined with a little Twilight Zone thrown in for good measure. The birthday cake scene in both DRONES and OFFICE SPACE is painful to watch, for those of you who have experienced that. For good measure, DRONES throws in a company-composed birthday song. Yikes!
There is also a parallel running joke - OFFICE SPACE had its TPS reports, while DRONES has the company database that is being changed from chronological to alphabetical. (Minor point: when you search a network server or database, you can sort it anyway you like, so this issue was really pointless.)
Actors/directors Benson and Busch have put together a nice little indie comedy, but they could use a bit more seasoning and experience. At 98 minutes, DRONES feels long. It might have worked better as a 60-minute TV piece.
All of the scenes takes place in the same drab, all-too-familiar office. There is NO visual variation - this might have been a creative choice, but it could also be done as a simple stage play, requiring very little in set design.
The cast is populated mostly by unknowns, with a few recognizable character actors (Samm Levine, Angela Bettis, and James Urbaniak). Jonathon Woodward brings a sort of Nathan Fillion-vibe to the Brian character, and Angela Bettis as Amy is believable as not being from this planet. The lack of "celebrities" works in this film's favor.
Some technical issues may have been a result of the directors' relative inexperience, or perhaps they were creative choices. Some scenes linger a little too long in the shot, creating awkward moments. Sometimes characters are not in-frame, but the camera eventually pans/tilts to capture the actors. If these were creative choices, they came off more as annoyances.
If you are expecting sci-fi CGI from the aliens, you will be sorely disappointed. Except for a very brief special effects scene (only a few seconds of green light FX), there are no CGI scenes. The aliens are completely human-looking, and you will see no spaceships, explosions, tech gear, or ray guns.
That is likely a budget decision, but it also hearkens back to such TV fare as MY FAVORITE MARTIAN to MORE & MINDY to THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, and others. Effects were few and far between, aside from a few unusual costumes or a crudely built "spaceship".
DRONES is worth a viewing, but lacks long-lasting memorable scenes that made OFFICE SPACE a "classic" (the latter wasn't particularly big at the box-office either, but it did find an audience in numerous cable viewings). Perhaps DRONES will have an second life on cable as well.
Like a Movie Length Twilight Zone Episode
Rabh176 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
No-- Not like "The Twilight Zone: The Movie". Instead, it's more like one of the Old Twilight Zone Episodes where the Earthlings are going about their business, unknowing that aliens are sitting next to them, studying them and deciding their fate. So a warning to Sci-Fi viewers, even as this is the premise, there are NO special FX. Again, think of it as a movie length Twilight Zone episode. One of the OLD ones, where everything is in the script.
Except in this case, one guy DOES learn that ONE alien is working alongside him in a large corporation.
And just like a stupid guy, he starts a relationship with ANOTHER one-- and then breaks up with her-- then finds out that she controls an invasion fleet.
The story is a light, humorous and totally surreal. But it is NOT about the imminent destruction of Earth; it's all about the Dangers of Office Romance.
And Copy Machines that might not just be copy machines.
And overall, heartwarming.
Park this movie for a nice Friday Nighter. And it's rated fully Girl-friend Friendly.
Except in this case, one guy DOES learn that ONE alien is working alongside him in a large corporation.
And just like a stupid guy, he starts a relationship with ANOTHER one-- and then breaks up with her-- then finds out that she controls an invasion fleet.
The story is a light, humorous and totally surreal. But it is NOT about the imminent destruction of Earth; it's all about the Dangers of Office Romance.
And Copy Machines that might not just be copy machines.
And overall, heartwarming.
Park this movie for a nice Friday Nighter. And it's rated fully Girl-friend Friendly.
Unexpectedly witty,enjoyable flick
frankf-1012 December 2012
Drones is a small film well worth watching if you enjoy quirky, well-written, well-acted comedies. Going in, I didn't understand that the sci-fi angle would be so central, but it was nice to see a low budget production that features (more or less convincingly) "aliens" without the need for tons of makeup. And Drones almost as funny as 'What Planet Are You From?' (which also needed little in the way of FX). Angela Bettis, not the typical cute/perky "young thing" one might expect in a role like this, is quite arresting, with a lovely smile and expressive face. I found all the performances to be solid, with a cast of actors who are unfamiliar to me. Good comic performances all around. I also enjoyed the songs playing over the closing credits, including one that listed many aspects of earth life that might befuddle extraterrestrials. The quirky birthday song was also a hoot.
Nice surprise
BigGiantEyeball23 April 2013
I tuned into this reluctantly, expecting Cone-Head type nonsense, but was pleasantly surprised to find a dialog driven comedy both smart and funny.
If only my selection of movie channels would schedule more like this. I almost missed it, I've become so cynical about the constant barrage of action, crime, bad horror, and cheap sex farces, that dominate the selection.
If you like being treated as if you have a grain of brainpower, then watch this little gem.
Maybe the aliens will evolve us.
If only my selection of movie channels would schedule more like this. I almost missed it, I've become so cynical about the constant barrage of action, crime, bad horror, and cheap sex farces, that dominate the selection.
If you like being treated as if you have a grain of brainpower, then watch this little gem.
Maybe the aliens will evolve us.
Brilliant little sci-fi comedy
Evil_Herbivore7 January 2022
Full disclosure: I watched Drones pretty much knowing what to expect. As a long time fan of The Thrilling Adventure Hour I'm well acquainted with Acker & Blacker's style of writing. So it's no wonder that I found the movie highly enjoyable.
The writing is just brilliant, creating a dialogue-driven story about aliens AND office romance at the same time. The absurd sci-fi elements are interwoven with the mundane problems of office workers dealing with their daily tasks and messy personal lives. There's no big action scenes and yet the movie keeps the viewer engaged the whole time.
The cast is also quite perfect. Jonathan M. Woodward is great in the main role, and as already mentioned in many other reviews, he channels Bill Murray wonderfuly. Samm Levine and Angela Bettis as the aliens - each from a different race - are both brilliant and a pleasure to watch. It's also great that the movie features a number of actors I loved in the Thrilling Adventure Hour, including James Urbaniak, Marc Evan Jackson, and a voice appearance by the one and only Paul F. Tompkins.
All in all, Drones is a tiny little gem that is easy to overlook due to its comparatively low budget and action which is much slower than in blockbuster sci-fi movies. But anyone who enjoys witty comedy with a touch of slice-of-life truth about the human condition will surely find it a really enjoyable watch.
The writing is just brilliant, creating a dialogue-driven story about aliens AND office romance at the same time. The absurd sci-fi elements are interwoven with the mundane problems of office workers dealing with their daily tasks and messy personal lives. There's no big action scenes and yet the movie keeps the viewer engaged the whole time.
The cast is also quite perfect. Jonathan M. Woodward is great in the main role, and as already mentioned in many other reviews, he channels Bill Murray wonderfuly. Samm Levine and Angela Bettis as the aliens - each from a different race - are both brilliant and a pleasure to watch. It's also great that the movie features a number of actors I loved in the Thrilling Adventure Hour, including James Urbaniak, Marc Evan Jackson, and a voice appearance by the one and only Paul F. Tompkins.
All in all, Drones is a tiny little gem that is easy to overlook due to its comparatively low budget and action which is much slower than in blockbuster sci-fi movies. But anyone who enjoys witty comedy with a touch of slice-of-life truth about the human condition will surely find it a really enjoyable watch.
A Quirky and Compelling Sci-Fi Comedy
nvasapper25 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I caught this on cable a couple of nights ago while channel-surfing and was very pleasantly surprised and entertained by it. The main reason why I decided to watch it was because I saw Angela Bettis' name in the on-screen blurb. I enjoy her performances and I figured if she's in it, it's worth a viewing. I was not disappointed. As the female lead, she carries the whole movie and does so quite competently. She is just an absolute joy to watch. She has a great talent of being able to blend both the comedic and the dramatic and to make it believable. She's both sweet and sinister. Though the plot is ostensibly about space aliens masquerading as humans and living among us as they perfect whatever plans they have in mind for Earth, that's only a subtext to the main theme. These different alien species(who seem to be unaware of the others' presence here) are interested in either colonizing our planet and becoming our supervisors at work(!!) or wiping out humankind and grabbing our natural resources. But that's just a plot device to allow a satiric look at corporate office politics and culture and the rewards and dangers of office romance. It all works beautifully and one can see that the cast had a fun time making this film. Samm Levine and Dave Allen are just wonderful and James Urbaniak, with his humorous deadpan facial expressions, will crack you up. Don't miss this one. It's a real hoot!
Hilarious!!!!
sgcim8 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't think this was going to be very good, after hearing some out of tune singer sing some song about writing a memo, but once the movie started, it was non-stop hilarity. This was sci-fi comedy writing on the level of Douglas Adams or Robert Sheckley. Incredible comic timing by all the actors and actresses that served the genius dialogue extremely well. I haven't seen a film where I was laughing out loud after every exchange since "The Producers". So far, I've loved every movie Angela Bettis has been in, and I didn't even know she was in this till I saw her name in the credits at the end. Other than some of the songs, the music was an unusual type of chamber music that really brought out the quirky, claustrophobic nature of all the cubicle encounters. Though the arrangements of the songs were well done, the mediocre vocalists were the only weak point of an almost perfect ensemble piece. The pace is very fast, like many sit-coms you see nowadays, but the humor is actually intelligent as opposed to the moronic non-humor that I can't sit through anymore- in movies, TV or even real-life. And all on only 1/2 mill! Mainstream media is so devoid of talent in general, these people would be a welcome relief to the endless dreck we're being fed.
Close Encounters of the Office Kind
greenbunnygoddess19 April 2010
I had the pleasure of seeing this at the Florida Film Festival this past weekend. Clever and witty, with a fantastic cast. There are touches of Office Space, but it's unfair to compare it too closely. This is an office all it's own, and the humor is in a whole other universe.
Jonathon M Woodward, who plays Brian, is Bill Murray reincarnated. His voice, his mannerisms, his comic timing, all of them are positively brilliant. Sam Levine, as Brian's sidekick, has brilliant timing, and completely steals the scenes he is in.
The scenes between Angela Bettis and Jonathon M Woodward are some of the greatest emotional scenes, whether they be funny or sweet. Angela has a very real stage presence, and a perfectly wicked grin. Just entirely too much fun to watch on screen.
Great humor, great cast, great soundtrack. You'll love it. Get thee to a film festival and watch it!
Jonathon M Woodward, who plays Brian, is Bill Murray reincarnated. His voice, his mannerisms, his comic timing, all of them are positively brilliant. Sam Levine, as Brian's sidekick, has brilliant timing, and completely steals the scenes he is in.
The scenes between Angela Bettis and Jonathon M Woodward are some of the greatest emotional scenes, whether they be funny or sweet. Angela has a very real stage presence, and a perfectly wicked grin. Just entirely too much fun to watch on screen.
Great humor, great cast, great soundtrack. You'll love it. Get thee to a film festival and watch it!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
