A curious alien responds to the Voyager spacecraft's invitation to visit Earth, lands in Wisconsin and takes the form of Karen Allen's late husband in this romantic road movie with a cosmic twist. John Carpenter's religious sci-fi parable has as much heart and emotion as it does special effects, and gives Oscar-nominated Jeff Bridges a real chance to stretch his acting talent as the extraterrestrial eager to learn about the pleasures and pain of human existence. Funny, suspenseful and moving - have those tissues ready for the heart-rending climax - this engaging space odyssey is one of Carpenter's best efforts.

When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.