If there’s one thing "The Man Who Loved UFOs" gets right, it’s that the premise alone can reel you in like a 1980s TV host promising you the secrets of the universe (but delivering something else entirely). The film, helmed by Argentine director Diego Lerman, is a comedic ode to the era of pre-digital media and the high strangeness surrounding UFO sightings. With a combination of dry wit and pure absurdity, this movie serves up a delightful—and sometimes frustrating—blend of drama and comedy.
Let's start with the positives. The film’s portrayal of José de Zer and Chango is full of charm. These two aren't just journalists; they're time travelers in their own right, capturing a moment in media history where reality and fiction could blur, long before social media muddied the waters. They roll up to La Candelaria, Córdoba, full of hope, only to find... well, a lot of burnt grass and a community about as excited about UFOs as a cat is about taking a bath. Still, it's their persistence and, dare I say, delusion that propels the film forward.
Wojciech Staron's cinematography captures Argentina’s rural landscapes in a way that feels both otherworldly and grounded, which is quite fitting for a movie about UFOs. The dry hills, the bleak skies—it all lends itself to the feeling that something cosmic could be happening here, or maybe it’s just an excellent setting for a good ol’ hoax.
Now, let’s talk about the alien in the room. The film sets up a grand narrative of UFO mystery but spends an awfully long time navel-gazing. At 107 minutes, the pacing drags in places where it feels like José and Chango are wandering aimlessly, much like they do through the hills. The charm of their oddball chemistry wears thin after a while, especially when you're waiting for the big reveal that never quite comes. The supposed “audiovisual creation of alien presence” was teased as one of the greatest in Argentine television history. Well, it doesn't land quite as spectacularly as one might hope.
The film dances on the line between being a satire of sensationalist journalism and a love letter to the weirder side of human nature. The problem is, sometimes it feels like the filmmakers aren’t entirely sure which side they’re on. Is it a tribute to José de Zer, a man who clearly enjoyed his brush with UFO fame or a jab at the gullibility of those who followed his story? At times, it feels like the movie wants to be both, which makes the tone wobble a bit uncomfortably.
But that's not to say the film doesn’t have its moments. The comedic timing, especially from the supporting cast (the oddballs in the small town who buy into the UFO mythos, or those who are hilariously skeptical), hits the mark more often than not. Sergio Prina as Chango is the perfect foil to Leonardo Sbaraglia’s José—his deadpan delivery balances José’s frenetic energy. And let’s not forget Renata Lerman and María Merlino, who add depth to a narrative that could have easily become a one-man circus of UFOs and burnt fields.
One of the film’s highlights is its subtle musing on how easily we are fooled by what we want to believe. In a world before Photoshop and deepfakes, people like José de Zer could convince entire towns—and even nations—of the fantastic. The film asks, without directly asking: How much has really changed?
Yet, for all its reflection on belief, the film sometimes loses itself in the clouds. There are sequences where the dialogue rambles, and we’re left wondering if the movie has forgotten what it set out to do—whether it's to investigate UFOs or tell a human story. By the time we get to the big “reveal” (I won’t spoil it, but let's say it involves some creative license with a camera), you might be left with a smirk on your face, but not the sense of wonder you hoped for.
To sum up, "The Man Who Loved UFOs" is like watching a magic trick where the magician takes a little too long fumbling with the hat. You know something's coming, and when it does, it's amusing—but not quite as mind-blowing as you’d hoped. For fans of whimsical dramedies and retro TV nostalgia, this movie hits the right notes. For those seeking a tight, fast-paced narrative, it might feel like José and Chango's meandering journey through the hills—beautiful to look at, but occasionally tiresome to follow. Still, there’s something undeniably fun about a film that takes itself half-seriously, inviting you along for the ride, even if it doesn’t entirely know where it's going.
Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
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Publisher at Midgard Times