JULES-An "ET" for the Septuagenarian SET with Ben Kingsley and Jane Curtain

JULES is a sci-fi appropriation of Spielberg's "ET".  That's not to say it's a cheap copy.  On the contrary, instead of being a lighter representation, JULES is an homage to its beloved predecessor with a vivid imprint on human frailties, strengths and compassion.  Milton (the phenomenal Ben Kingsley) is an elderly widow living in a small, rural PA town.  We first meet him at a local town hall meeting where he dodders on about renaming their town slogan "a good place to call home" because the semantics are confusing,  Make no mistake, this is the first of many fond winks to "ET".   Milton's dogged persistence are met with respectful indulgences from the town's official and locals.  Two other senior citizens who are regular attendees with their own agendas are Joyce (a terrific Jane Curtin) and Sandy (Broadway and TV veteran Harriet Sansom Harris).  Milton's mundane life is interrupted in the middle of the night by a spaceship crash landing in his yard desecrating his azaleas.  Milton, rightly alarmed calls 911 where he's told crank calls are a felony,  At the next town hall, Milton adds to his grievances the alien spaceship that slammed into his garden.  The members of city council are nonplussed but both Joyce and Sandy take notice.  Soon all three seniors share in the care and nurturing of this benevolent being that fell to earth.  Harking back to the original "ET" the bond between caregiver and mentor flourishes and a strong, symbiotic relationship ensues with some unique surprises and touching twists.  Jules is the name Sandy bestows the alien though Joyce prefers Gary.  Names yield significance.  Milton, selected for the epic poem "Paradise Lost," Joyce for the epic classic "Ulysses," Jules for science fiction writer Jules Verne and Sandy stands for man's defender.  The four form a quartet that is uplifting as long as they can fly under the radar.  Of course, the government is aware of the alien sighting but they're still scrambling to determine its landing.  (Go figure!)  Meanwhile our elderly earthlings share their vulnerabilities with "Jules" and each other while finding solace in companionship and validation from being heard.  Kingsley, Curtain and Harris give stellar performances.  The alien emotes tenderness belying the stealth and power he possesses.   JULES the film Exudes Tenderness, humor and Empathy Throughout.  The film will woo mature audiences and will play to the kid in all of us.  I beckon viewers on board for a delightful journey.