As if all the alien talk in the real world wasn’t enough, Mark Turtletaub’s Jules is going to make you want to have a little alien crash into your own backyard. The independent film starring Ben Kingsley, Jane Curtin, and Harriet Sansom Harris in pivotal roles is one that touches upon some difficult themes in a rather amusing manner. There are many moments of genuine, jaw-splitting laughter in this film that came as a complete surprise to me. Of course, without the Hollywood pomp and glamour, nobody would’ve heard about this little indie, but this film is better than many extraterrestrial experiments. Most importantly, even with such an extraordinary premise, it’s a very ordinary tale of loneliness and aging.

Jules follows an old man named Milton from a small town. Every week during the council meetings, Milton makes the same suggestions regarding the town slogan and...