Let’s rewind to 1988—a time when sci-fi didn’t need sleek CGI or deep symbolism to be entertaining. Enter My Stepmother Is an Alien, a delightfully goofy comedy that mixes romance, intergalactic missions, and absurd humor into one weirdly charming package.

If you’ve forgotten this film, or you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a wonderfully awkward blast from the past.

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Kim Basinger 1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien

The film kicks off with Dr. Steven Mills, played by the always-quirky Dan Aykroyd. He’s a genius scientist—and a recent widower—who accidentally shoots a signal into deep space while experimenting in his lab. Whoops.

That signal, it turns out, grabs the attention of an advanced alien civilization. Their response? They send Celeste, a beautiful extraterrestrial disguised as a seductive human (Kim Basinger), to Earth. Her mission is to figure out if Steven’s accidental discovery could threaten their world.

Celeste shows up in heels, awkwardly trying to blend in—and it’s every bit as hilarious as you’d hope.

Basinger brings something really fun to this role: she’s awkward and alluring, completely confused by human customs, but determined to fulfill her mission. Whether she’s trying to walk in high heels, learn small talk, or interpret fashion trends, her confusion leads to some top-tier comedic moments.

She’s not just playing an alien—she’s playing an alien trying to pretend she’s not. And the result is gold.

Aykroyd, who had already established his comedy chops in Ghostbusters, plays the straight-laced scientist who falls head-over-heels for Celeste. He’s skeptical at first, but her beauty and mystery get the better of him. Their whirlwind romance—and the chaos it causes—drives the film forward.

His nerdy, sincere charm balances out Basinger’s eccentricity perfectly.

Before she was known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer or How I Met Your Mother, Alyson Hannigan played Jessie, Steven’s teenage daughter. She’s the voice of reason in the movie. While her dad is smitten, Jessie sees through Celeste’s odd behavior. Her suspicions and investigations lead to some of the funniest and most heartfelt scenes.

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My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988) Dan Aykroyd Kim Basinger Alyson Hannigan Jon Lovitz Seth Green

It’s the classic “kid knows what’s up” trope, and it works beautifully.

Yes, the special effects are outdated. Yes, the fashion is aggressively 80s. And yes, the humor is full of slapstick and over-the-top moments. But that’s the charm.

You don’t watch this film for Oscar-worthy drama. You watch it for its bizarre mix of sci-fi and sitcom-level comedy. Think Third Rock from the Sun meets Weird Science with a romantic twist.

My Stepmother Is an Alien isn’t trying to be deep. It’s a campy, colorful comedy with enough heart to keep it afloat and enough weirdness to make it memorable. If you want a nostalgic laugh—or just a fun way to spend 90 minutes—this one’s still got it.