Sentence:  In the abstract, Stuhlbarg's twinkly-eyed sidekick suggests Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon 2 by way of late-period Robin Williams with an alien <WSD>twist</WSD>, but Stuhlbarg makes a character that easily could have come across as precious into a surprisingly palatable, even charming man. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An unexpected turn in a story, tale, etc.