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Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Unearth a classic romance
Review: Most "duck out of water" stories focus on the duck's perspective. How will he cope? Can he manage in a world so different? While "Blast From the Past" is definitely in that category of stories, the focus is almost reversed. We never really have any doubts as to whether our hero will cope with a strange new world, the question is, how will the world cope with him.

Brendan Fraser is perfectly cast as a young man seeing the world for the first time, after getting the ultimate sheltered upbringing; fall-out shelter that is. During the Cuban missile crisis his parents, Calvin and Helen Webber, retreat to their backyard shelter. This turns out to be a good idea as it saves them from a plane that crashes into their perfect 50's home, but the explosion only serves to convince them that the atomic war has commenced. Thus begins their 35-year exile under 20 feet of rich, suburban soil.

While not critical to the plot, we are treated to the birth and upbringing of young Adam Webber, as her learns science, languages and boxing from his genius father, Christopher Walken. His somewhat stressed and tipsy mother, Sissy Spacek, teaches him the fine art of dance and imbues him with impeccable 50's manners. It is like a sociology experiment. How will a man develop if he is exposed to the minimum range of consistent stimulus possible? This is especially true given that his unworldly parents actually try to shield him from the few harsh truths they do know, such as a nasty four letter word, "from the archaic French, meaning roughly good".

The clock ticks over and eventually Adam must face the new world. Armed with good intentions, good manners and a great shopping list, he ventures into the unknown... and immediately gets lost. But don't despair, he is half-heartedly rescued by a beautiful if cynical blond by the name of Eve, Alicia Silverstone. Once again, this is perfect casting. Adam and Eve develop a touching chemistry that forces us to buy into the whole kismet thing.

Eve and her quietly gay but witty companion Troy, guide Adam through the dangers of downtown Los Angeles, while he goes shopping for supplies and a wife. But while Adam learns quickly from his new tutors, they learn even more from him. They learn to feel again, to be honest and polite. They start to see the world as if through Adams eyes and are the better for it. The message here may seem to be one of rosy nostalgia for the good old days but I prefer to think of it as a comparison between cynicism and sincerity. You walk away from this film wondering if all that protective armour we wear, might only be weighing us down.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Extremely funny!
Review: Adam was cocooned in a bomb shelter since his birth. His family had been trapped in there since the 1960s. His parents taught him everything they could, from languages to dancing. Although Adam had become quite knowlegeable but he was still naive in a way without any exposure to the real world. When he had a chance to go out in the world with a grocery list from his mother, he created so many hilarious situations. Then when Adam met Eve, she helped him out with his very long shopping list. She believed Adam to be from Alaska and yet when she found him to be so knowledgeable and even know how to dance so well, she began to doubt that. Adam did not even know how to explain that he was from underground (He lived in a bomb shelter, remember?) I have found myself laughing out loud throughout the show.

If you are a romantic comedy fan, you gotta watch this!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "It Really Picks Up Here, Wait For It"
Review: When Brendan Fraser uttered those words during the playing of a Perry Como song, I almost lost control. His facial expressions are a riot, and really make the film complete.

Blast From the Past is just pure humorous entertainment. Not only is the stroyline funny, but the reading-between-the-lines and subtle dry humor is fantastic. The whole plot just flows so well, making for a very enjoyable viewing experience. On top of it all, the film has a pleasant underlying message, stressing good family values.

Fraser is terrific in his role as the naiive Adam Webber. Despite his tremendous acting ability, Fraser's facial expressions easily steal the show. He, hands down, makes this role happen. Alicia Silverstone is the perfect compliment to him in this movie, and it is refreshing to watch her character develop over the course of the story. Dave Foley has always been great in comedic roles, and the part of the gay room-mate seems to have been made for him in the film. Sissy Spacek and Christopher Walken as Adam's parents are amazingly funny in their seemingly unusual roles. On the whole, the acting in the movie was nothing less than spectacular.

Blast From the Past is a wonderful film to gather the family around. It's incredibly humorous, and has a very positive message. This film will leave you feeling good.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good Fun on a Rainy Sunday Afternoon
Review: This certainly is not a 5 Star movie, but it is fun and highly watchable. I think any DVD collection would be made more complete with a copy of this film. Fraser is very good in this movie and carries the whole thing. Without his acting abilities, I dare say this film would be a 1-Star wonder. Silverstone is fine but I think a better choice would be someone a little bit older. She is difficult to imagine in this role as it feels like it was written for someone 10 years older. This film to me is like "comfort food"....something that makes you feel at home like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. When I am feeling harried from the work week, this film is a guilty pleasure to fall back on. It is NOT great, but it is delightfully comfortable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sweet, warm and fast pace
Review: If you want something sweet, warm and funny, this movie is just for you. It is not one of those "talking movies" where you have to chase every word or you wouldn't understand anything. Also it's not slow motion movie that makes you sleep or go to kitchen for a quick sandwish. You sit down and start watching and i guarantee that you won't leave your couch until "Blast of the Past" is over. Check it out!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: I didn't see this movie when it was in the theaters- nor did I have much desire to even rent it- largely because the TV commercials promoting its release did not do it justice (and because most of Brendan Fraser's films have not done well financially or critically). So I was pretty surprised when I finally did see it and found that it was witty and much more intelligent than I expected.

Adam (named after the biblical first man on earth, since his parents believed they were the only survivors of the "blast" that kept them locked in their amazingly well-stocked shelter for 35 years, waiting for the radiation to clear) is sent out into the real world for supplies when his father suffers a heart attack. After his inital shock at seeing the sky for the first time, exploring the supermarket, and riding the bus, he meets Eve by chance at a baseball card store. (She prevents him from getting ripped off by the store owner, who is trying to buy Adam's extremely valuable 60's cards for a fraction of their worth). Reluctantly (for Eve, not for the puppydog-ish Adam), the two gradually become friends as Adam persuades Eve to help him gather groceries and other staples... never really revealing why it is he needs so much stuff. By the time Eve finds out about Adam's past, even the fact that she (briefly) thinks he's clinically insane can't stop her from falling for him.

Of course, this whole story line is completely unbelievable, but that's part of the fun. It's amusing to see how Los Angeles grows, changes, and decays above-ground while things remain stuck in a 60's time-warp down below. (And can someone please explain how this family of three managed to live down there for 35 years without killing each other?) Also humorous is the side-story of the down-on-his-luck guy (an employee of the various businesses occupying the space above the shelter over the years) who is there to witness Adam's arrival into the real world, and builds a whole religion out of worshipping his new god. (It's funnier than it sounds). I must also say I disagree with ... claim that Alicia Silverstone is poorly cast as Eve. Though her character could have been more well-rounded and personable, I think Alicia did a fine job with the role (and her hair looked great, by the way).

All in all, a creative, sweet, and funny movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty good - at least it has a twist
Review: I thought this movie was good because it was a new idea, Fraser is Brilliant, I'm a fan of Alicia Silverstone and she didn't do that bad (though she's better in Clueless) and the sets are authentic and well done. I also liked the way they showed the ground above the shelter changing over the years.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cute Movie
Review: I loved this movie although I know its a bit too sweet and too cute at times. It's an excellent candidate for a "family movie" but actually its just a good, solid movie all around. Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek turn in delightful performances as Brendan Fraser's parents - wholesome and quirky. This movie does have its hints of the darker side of the middle class 60's type environment in which Adam (played by Brendan Fraser) was raised - such as Spacek's closet alcoholism as well as hints of the way our society has changed - from the so-called innocence of America during the Kennedy era with its Cold War paranoia to a modern-day America with its acceptance of a diversity of lifestyles that the 60's hadn't accepted just yet and also its societal problems that just didn't seem to be a part of the early 60's consciousness even though they existed then as now. Brendan Fraser turns in a wonderful performance, effectively portraying Adam's innocence and sense of wonder at everything he sees with humor and even pathos. Alicia Silverstone does a passable job although I felt the flaws in her character were not her fault so much as it was the fault of her character being underwritten and the director being confused as to what to do with her character. David Foley is wonderful as always. The movie is also peppered with wonderful character actors who actually make up some of the movie's funniest moments. Although the screenwriting is not as tight as it could be - especially with regard to the latter half of the movie when Fraser wanders around the modern world - Fraser carries the movie with ease and charm. This movie is well worth watching. Good movie if you're in the mood for something light, not too serious but not bubble gum either, funny, and with wonderful comedic acting by Walken, Spacek, and Fraser. The type of movie you can watch again and again and still enjoy because its just fun and cute and well done.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very Funny. Sweet.
Review: While *Blast From the Past* is silly in the extreme, Christopher Walken, Sissy Spacek, and Brendan Fraser turn in wonderful performances in this light-hearted, family-oriented comedy. Fraser delightfully and convincingly portrays Adam's innocence and sense of wonder although it is really Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek who make the movie as Adam's old-fashioned and loving parents. In addition, the movie is also filled with wonderful and quirky bit characters whom full credit should be given to for many of the movies most amusing moments. Alicia Silverstone turns in a decent performance and is not miscast so much as she is misdirected and under-written.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Exceeded my expectations
Review: I bought this on VCD format (Original - non pirate version cost around $5.00) more or less as a time filler. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was a really funny and sometimes touching romantic comedy. So long as you accept the premise on which the film is based then it becomes an enjoyable journey of discovery for Adam (Brendan Fraser) while also allowing Eve and Troy to learn something themselves - especially what it means to be a gentleman.

There are some very funny scenes both in the shelter with Walken and Spacek and on the surface ("I haven't brushed yet today'). I can't remember Alicia Silverstone being better in any other movie that she has done and Brendan Fraser is ideal for the role of Adam.


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