Aliens in America
2007
Original language: English
- comedy
- family
The story
Justin Tolchuk is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin. When his well-meaning mom Franny signs up for the school's international exchange student program, she pictures an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen who will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuk's exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff, a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim. It's going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora.
What it’s like
Bright, flat sitcom lighting over suburban Wisconsin kitchens, cul-de-sacs and school hallways, with a multi-camera rhythm: quick cuts between two-shot banter, reaction close-ups, and a laugh track that keeps the pace bouncy. The palette is warm and unfussy, all beige walls, cardigans and pale winter light, and the sound is plain pop-sitcom cheer with a light, upbeat theme. Its vibe is cozy and gently awkward, suited to a weeknight comfort rewatch or easy background viewing while folding laundry. Episodes move briskly through misunderstandings and social set-pieces, and the emotional register stays warm and forgiving: a sensitive, lanky teenager slowly learning to stand up for himself, and a family widening its sense of who belongs at the dinner table. Intensity is low: mild teen-angst comedy, some crude jokes and insensitive remarks that the show actively skewers, no violence, no sexual content on screen. It is for viewers who want light, character-driven family comedy with a sincere heart and a hint of social satire about small-town prejudice.
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