At long last, a sequel to "ALF": "District 9"

Although the special effects aren't quite as good. Still ...

Like most of the nation, I had no clue about this movie until the trailers started popping up a couple of months ago. Sure, Peter Jackson was a producer, but with no stars and an unknown director, we weren't exactly talking "Independence Day." Another issue: This is a sci-fi movie that -- gasp -- deals in larger sociopolitical issues. Say what? Gimme sum more of dem laser guns, dammit!

Our story is set up in neo-classic fashion: through a documentary/news report of sorts. Twenty years ago, an alien ship came to rest over Johannesburg, South Africa. Inside were more than a million down-on-their-luck aliens -- kind of skeltal with a Davy Jones Lite face -- who took up residence in a refugee camp that turned into a shantytown. Now the government wants to move them to a new camp way outside the city.

Heading that effort is a nerdy office guy who struck me at first as the little brother of Michael Scott from "The Office." With military help, he sets to clearing the shantytown, all the while narrating the action for the cameras. When he stumbles across a cylinder with some weird fluid, though, things start to get a little crazy. Our hero becomes hunted, and find he has more in common with the misunderstood aliens.

Playing this unfortunate soul is a guy named Sharlto Copley, who is absolutely brilliant in his first big-screen role. Seriously, for someone just out of the gate, he delivers the goods in a fairly tough role. Much credit goes to the story, of course, which takes the tired "aliens come to Earth" premise and draws parallels with apartheid and social ostracism in general. Only this time, with gross aliens who sound a little like the guy from "The Gods Must Be Crazy."

As you well know, I'm a sucker for sci-fi. But the larger themes, the filming style and the ticking clock aspect of "District 9" -- not to mention the refusal to have the safe ending -- elevate the movie from the normal mediocre fare. Plus, we get all sorts of explosions, shooting, etc. So that's good.

In all, a very worthwhile entry in the late summer season, which is kind of nice after the dust from the one-two sh!tpunch of "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" has settled. Playtime's over, kiddos. Let the grown-ups talk for a while.