Passage of time can affect comedies in unexpected ways. What used to make people laugh now makes them wince and the titles of films can get a new, ironic meaning. That happened with Blast from the Past, 1999 romantic comedy directed by Hugh Wilson.
The plot begins in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Kennedy warns American people to prepare for possibility of nuclear confrontation with Soviets, but Calvin Weber (played by Christopher), eccentric but very talented inventor from Los Angeles, has already taken care of his family by building huge fallout shelter and having it stuffed with food, water and other supplies to last for 35 years. When a plane hits Weber's home, it is mistaken for a nuclear blast, forcing Calvin and his pregnant wife Helen (played by Sissy Spacek) to begin their decades-long exile in the underground. As time passes, their son Adam (played by Brendan Fraser) grows to become an impeccable young man, trained in science, arts, foreign languages, martial arts and other skills necessary to survive in post-apocalyptic world. When Calvin in late 1990s finally gets out of shelter to replenish supplies, sight of his old neighbourhood being infested by drunks, drug addicts and porn shops is too much for him. Adam decides to follow by his footsteps and is fortunate enough to stumble into Eve Rustikoff (played by Alicia Silverstone), young woman who reluctantly agrees to help good looking stranger with anachronistically good manners.
Blast from the Past is in its essence "high concept" film which uses intriguing idea as the set up for classic "fish out of water" comedy where the best gags are being used in film's trailers. Humour is of variable quality, but majority of jokes and gags, at least to a certain degree, works. Director Hugh Wilson (who co-wrote script with Bill Kelly) even finds time for some kind of social commentary in which he compares idealistic world of early 1960s with more cynical reality of late 1990s, showing virtues and flaws of both generational mindsets. This is achieved through obligatory romance between Adam and Eve which is shown not only as the perfect union between two compatible characters, but also as necessary compromise between idealism and realism.
Most of the audience would, of course, care little for socio-cultural observations. What they want to see is the humour, which Wilson provides (with possible exception of the subplot involving religious cult), and romance, which is also provided through wonderful chemistry between Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone. Other actors also excel - Christopher Walken is again formidable in one of the rare comical roles of his prolific career while Sissy Spacek is convincing as his alcoholic and half-mad wife.
Blast from the Past is likeable and entertaining film, but from today's perspective it is very different than it was six years ago. The film's ending, in which Calvin Weber finally faces the world in which world, although imperfect, is much safer than it used to be, now looks as dated as early 1960s nuclear paranoia has looked to people in late 1990s.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on October 13th 2004)
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