Blast From the Past (1999)

Coasting on the successes of Gods and Monsters and George of the Jungle, Brendan Fraser turns in yet another winning performance in this fish-out-of-water comedy in which Pleasantville meets modern-day Los Angeles, with predictably funny results. Fraser stars as Adam, who was born in the bomb shelter of his paranoid inventor dad (a less-manic-than-usual Christopher Walken), who spirited his pregnant wife (Sissy Spacek, in fine comic form) underground when he thought the Communists dropped the bomb (actually, it was a plane crash). Armed with enough supplies to last 35 years, the parents bring up Adam in Leave It to Beaver style with nary any exposure to the outside world. When the supplies run out, and dad suffers a heart attack, Fraser goes up to modern-day L.A. for some shopping and long-awaited culture shock. More of a cute premise with lots of clever ideas attached than a fully fleshed out story, Blast from the Past is also supposed to be part romantic comedy, as the hunky Adam hooks up with his jaded Eve (Alicia Silverstone) and tries to convince her to marry him and go underground. The sparks don't fly, though, because Silverstone is saddled with the triple whammy of being miscast, playing an underwritten character, and suffering a very bad hairdo. Fraser, however, carries the film lightly and easily on his broad, goofy shoulders, mixing Adam's gee-whiz innocence with genuine emotion and curiosity; only Fraser could pull off Adam's first glimpse of a sunrise or the ocean with both humor and pathos. Also winning is Dave Foley as Silverstone's gay best friend, who manages to make the most innocuous statements sound like comic gems. --Mark Englehart Amazon.com

 A feel good flick!
I owned this in the VHS format, and was thrilled to purchase it when it came out on DVD. It is among my favorites, I watch it over and over. I like movies without tons of foul language, and obvious sex. It is cute and simple, and leaves you with a good feeling - something that too many movies today don't do. If you are looking for an elaborate plot, lots of bells and whistles, this one is not for you. It is more of a chick flick, than a guys film. February 11, 2008

 A fun what if
Back in the 60's we had the threat of nuclear war. Many people built fallout shelters. While most shelters were just holes in the ground, Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken) went all out and builds an environment to sustain his "family to be" for the duration. Due to a series of mishaps they are convinced that the war is taking place and descend to their underground abode. There they raise their newborn son with loving care. 35 years later it is time to test the waters. What they find is beyond their speculation and this is the first time out for their son. This is the story of the adventures of the son (Brendan Fraser) and what he found. Will he find a woman to return with or have to settle for a mutant?

The first shocker is the sound track of Randy Newman singing "Political Science." The song is just as (in) appropriate today.

Encino Man DVD ~ Sean Astin
February 10, 2008

 fun premise poorly executed
The premise of this movie was interesting, but instead of exploring the many comedic possibilities of a stuck-in-the-50's family navigating the 1990's (and the potentially rich sub-plot of the archbishop and the cult that developed around the elevator) it languished in the tired old formula of feisty girl meets boy, girl plays hard to get because she can't understand it was love at first sight and HE'S the man she's waited for all along, yawn yawn yawn. And Alicia Silverstone...somebody please get that girl some acting lessons!

Watched this one only because I had the flu and was too tired to do much else. Besides, it was on TV so it didn't cost me anything except my time. December 29, 2007

 Really Cute Movie
This is a great movie for family night. Not for small children, but a real hoot for teens and up. Good price, too. December 28, 2007

 Author Bill Kelly gets 2 thumbs up from me!
Sure, it helped to have such wonderful actors, but he has come up with 3 (that I know of) stories that as different as they are from one another, are incredibly interesting and "fresh". I think a great deal of his work. December 2, 2007

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