With a ‘50s biker gang aesthetic and a premise that loosely recalls 'Pleasantville,' the fiercely indie brothers’ latest oddity is a mostly winsome ensemble affair where everyone commits to the bit. Among the greatest cinematic mysteries of our time, when it’s harder than ever to make movies, is the fact that David and NathanZellner continue to realize their uncompromisingly DIY, endearingly childlike vision through an indie filmography that only seems to grow in scale and purpose. It’s a welcome miracle that the duo who once captured the rhythms of childhood in their own idiosyncratic way (“Kid-Thing”), channeled compassion for those who might think the buried “Fargo” treasure is real (“Kumiko the Treasure Hunter”), and made a goofily unhinged groom out of Robert Pattinson nearly a decade before “The Drama” got there (“Damsel”), continue to play in their lovable sandbox.
For most audiences, the Zellners’ rhythms and textures are an acquired taste of sorts, like oysters or Marmite, that some would swear by, and others couldn’t fathom. Thankfully, many of the finest actors out there seem to revere them. In fact, quite a few of them — including Léa Seydoux, Cate Blanchett (also a producer), Chris Pine and Kelvin Harrison Jr. — turn up and gleefully let loose in the brothers’ latest indie oddity “Alpha Gang,” about a group of isolated, leather-clad space aliens aiming to conquer the earth while donned in ‘50s biker gear.
The story’s time period is purposely indistinct: We might be somewhere in the mid-20th century if the gang’s romantically fitted greaser outfits, meticulously sculpted hairdos, and disarming doo-wop musical tastes — played out of an old-timey jukebox — are any indication. Then again, who knows where and when any of this is happening, given that many earthlings also turn up throughout “Alpha Gang.” They represent figures of various real-world wars throughout history, tasked to eradicate the blue-blooded aliens: sometimes in tanks, with bazookas and hand grenades, sometimes in carriages and with vintage weapons. Trying to kill them first are the group of Alphas One to Six, played by Seydoux and Harrison Jr., as well as Doona Bae, Riley Keough, Dave Bautista and Lily-Rose Depp.
Most of the time, they keep a straight, frozen face while dancing to ‘50s love songs with robotic moves. And they are all alarmed about this fast-spreading human disease called emotions. What if they catch it and regretfully display joy, sadness, anger and so on, slowly losing their powers?
Late to the party, Keough’s Alpha Six, who appears on earth in a playful scene out of a vintage sci-fi, gets warned about these dangerous things called feelings by Seydoux’s Alpha One. But Six has bigger things to worry about, like the explosive diarrhea attack all Alphas have to endure when they enter Earth. Yes, there are toilet jokes throughout “Alpha Gang,” and the funniest one is a running gag about the mystery Alpha who consistently leaves the seat up and pees all over it.
Still, the most appealing quality of this film — directed jointly by the Zellners, but written by David only — is how much undeniable fun the cast seems to having delivering truly ridiculous lines with a straight face, like when a love-hungry Alpha Three (Harrison Jr.) asks a little bird to go steady with him. He isn’t the only one losing himself in feelings. Alphas Two (Bautista), Four (Depp) and Five (Bae) also secretly harbor awakenings, with One and Six projecting anger and frustration in excess.
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