Overlooked by audiences in a blink of a theatrical release, Marc Turtletaub's sci-fi whimsy is the most successful blend of senior citizens and space aliens since Cocoon (1986). A lively nerd-driven argument could result from which of those two is superior, as Jules offers no escapist-wish-fulfillment ET fountain of youth in its plotline, and does not sugar-coat indignities of age and society's marginalization of the elderly.
The setting is a small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border (portrayed by New Jersey) where widowed Milton (Ben Kingsley) lives alone, exhibiting undeniable, creeping dementia, and semi-estranged from his adult children over his inadequacies as a father. Milton's local-eccentric existence is interrupted by a flying saucer crashing in his backyard and disgorging a stricken, child-sized humanoid.
Nobody believes Milton's attempts to inform them about the amazing visitor, whom polite Milton stolidly nurses back to health. A female acquaintance (Harriet Harris, best known to viewers of "Frasier") chances to learn about the UFO occupant and, recovering from her initial fright, names him/her "Jules." And—correctly so, it turns out—she is adamant about keeping Jules a secret, lest menacing government types come hunting. A neighborhood busybody (Jane Curtin), however, grows suspicious.
With the easy temptations of pathos and cheap sentiment wisely held at bay in Gavin Steckler's amusing script, the trio of above 70 leads do quite good seriocomic turns. Jules—played by stuntwoman Jade Quon in a low-key creature outfit concocted by KNB Effects—is all the more effective for never speaking. A few swear words and offscreen violence is the only reason for the PG-13 rating, which, in more enlightened days, would not even been that extreme.
The compact run time is just right also, for an understated fantasy/SF dramedy that deserves "sleeper" status on home video. Disc Extra is a behind-the-scenes featurette. Recommended.