What Planet Are You From? (2000) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, a city known for its desert landscape and sunny weather. The modern urban setting provides a backdrop for Harold's fish-out-of-water story as he navigates human courtship and relationships in a contemporary American city.

• phoenix arizona
• setting
• location
• desert city

The movie takes place in a modern, contemporary setting without specifying a particular year. This allows the story to remain timeless, letting audiences relate the events to both current and future societal themes of love, identity, and understanding.

• time period
• modern setting
• contemporary

The movie explores three core themes: Extraterrestrial Love, which examines trust and misunderstanding between different worlds; Betrayal, focusing on how hidden truths can shatter relationships; and Identity, highlighting the struggle between one's true nature and the personas they adopt.

• themes
• extraterrestrial love
• betrayal
• identity
• meaning

Harold Anderson is an alien emissary sent to Earth on a mission to impregnate a human female. He disguises himself as a human named Harold Anderson and attempts to blend in while searching for a suitable mate in Phoenix. His character arc involves growing genuine feelings for Susan that conflict with his original mission.

• harold anderson
• alien protagonist
• main character
• mission

Susan is a recovering addict who becomes romantically involved with Harold. She represents someone searching for love and stability, but her relationship is complicated when she learns Harold's true extraterrestrial nature, leading to feelings of betrayal and confusion before eventually finding empowerment.

• susan
• love interest
• recovering addict
• relationship

Graydon is the ruler of Harold's home planet who assigns and oversees the Earth mission. He represents the authority and cultural expectations of alien society, enforcing strict norms. His death serves as a turning point in the story that affects all major characters.

• graydon
• alien ruler
• planet leader
• authority

Roland Jones is an FAA employee who becomes obsessed with uncovering Harold's extraterrestrial nature. As an antagonist figure, he embodies human skepticism and curiosity about the unknown. His investigations into Harold's background trigger key plot developments that lead to the climax.

• roland jones
• faa
• antagonist
• investigation
• discovery

The film explores identity through Harold's struggle to reconcile his alien origins with his human disguise as Harold Anderson. His journey raises questions about self-acceptance and how our experiences shape our identities, especially when living between two different worlds.

• identity
• disguise
• self-acceptance
• alien human

Despite its sci-fi premise, the film maintains a light and comedic tone throughout. It uses satire to poke fun at alien invasion tropes and humorous situations arising from Harold's attempts to understand human courtship. Even moments of potential conflict are resolved quickly and optimistically.

• tone
• comedy
• satire
• humor
• lighthearted

The Extraterrestrial Love theme explores the complexities of love between an alien and a human. Through Harold and Susan's relationship, the film examines trust, misunderstanding, and the challenges of blending different worlds, raising questions about acceptance and identity across cultural divides.

• alien love
• cross-cultural relationship
• trust
• acceptance

The Betrayal theme centers on Harold's hidden identity and his ultimate decision to leave Susan. Her complicated feelings of gratitude mixed with betrayal highlight how concealed truths can damage trust. The theme adds emotional depth, showing how hidden identities affect personal relationships.

• betrayal
• trust
• secrets
• emotional conflict

The film blends sci-fi and comedy, but leans primarily comedic. While the premise involves an alien mission on Earth, the execution focuses on humorous situations and satirical takes on alien invasion tropes. The sci-fi elements serve as a framework for the romantic comedy rather than driving serious scientific or dramatic tension.

• genre
• sci-fi
• comedy
• romantic comedy
• blended genre