DVD Adam Webster was born and raised for 35 years in a nuclear fallout shelter and he's about to get a taste of the 90's in Los Angeles.
Details
During the Cuban Missile Crisis the world is understandably worried about the possibility of nuclear war. Even before the crisis many American families were building and installing their own nuclear bunkers. One such family are the Websters. Calvin Webster is a scientist working for the government and, convinced that nuclear war is inevitable, he has built an impressive self-sufficient bomb shelter beneath his house.
After hearing a particularly alarming presidential speech he decides that it would be best for him and his heavily pregnant wife Helen to take refuge in the bunker until the crisis blows over. Unfortunately a fighter jet experiencing problems comes careering out of control towards the Webster's home. When the explosion rocks the bunker Calvin assumes that nuclear war has begun and seals the bunker for thirty-five years. If that wasn't dramatic enough, the excitement proves too much for Helen and she goes into labour, giving birth to their son Adam underground.
Because Calvin kept his bunker a secret, nobody knew it existed and the family were presumed to have perished in the plane crash. In reality they spend the next three and a half decades living underground while the outside world carries on as normal. During that time Adam is raised with the manners and values of the early 1960s, growing into the perfect gentleman while Los Angeles above them slowly changes from a leafy suburb into a far less glamorous part of the valley.
When supplies begin to run low Calvin eventually decides to venture to the surface wearing a full NBC suit. Once outside he quickly encounters sights that convince him the world has become a terrifying wasteland. A transvestite is mistaken for a mutant and a drunken man vomiting in the gutter is assumed to be suffering from radiation poisoning. Certain that civilisation has collapsed, Calvin retreats back to the bunker intending to remain hidden for another thirty-five years - something his wife is understandably less enthusiastic about.
Eventually Adam is forced to venture to the surface himself in search of supplies. Armed with cash and a collection of baseball trading cards now worth a small fortune, he emerges into 1990s Los Angeles where he soon meets Eve, a modern LA woman starved of a meaningful relationship. Adam enlists her help in gathering supplies and perhaps even finding a suitable wife. Naturally the clash between Adam's wonderfully old-fashioned upbringing and the modern world leads to plenty of comical misunderstandings - and the beginnings of a sweet romance.
Menu & Extras
The picture is bright and colourful with no signs of artifacting or outlining. The deliberate dulling and high contrast of the colours in the early stages of the film is quite effective, giving it an authentic 1960's look. Once outdoors the bright sunny days of LA do give the picture a bit of a hard time with the high contrast levels at times, but the night time scenes are handled with ease.
The sound is just as impressive with some nice ambient effects in the surround channels and clear and precise dialogue in the centre channel. One word of warning though - you may want to be prepared for the large explosion after about ten minutes of the film. After setting the volume to a pleasant level for the dialogue, the neighbours may well think a war has started in your living room when things suddenly burst into life.
The menu is nicely animated and the extras are sufficient, if nothing really to get overly excited about, with the usual trailer and a bizarre "love meter" game. Owners of a DVD-equipped PC will get a bit more value from the disc thanks to several additional DVD-ROM features and games. Also, those who dislike widescreen presentations are catered for with a fullscreen version of the film.
Overall
Does Christopher Walken ever deliver a bad performance? His portrayal of the wonderfully eccentric survivalist Calvin is hilarious and oddly endearing, while Sissy Spacek plays his long-suffering - and increasingly alcoholic - loving wife perfectly.
Brendan Fraser is also superb as Adam, capturing the innocence and charm of a man who has effectively stepped straight out of the 1960s and into the confusion of modern Los Angeles. However, it is Alicia Silverstone who provides the perfect balance to Adam's wide-eyed innocence as Eve. Her laid-back, slightly cynical view of modern life contrasts wonderfully with Adam's old-fashioned politeness, and the chemistry between the two makes the developing romance both believable and very entertaining.
Blast from the Past is one of those rare light-hearted comedies that simply leaves you feeling good. The humour comes as much from the clever culture clashes and visual jokes as it does from the dialogue, and the film never loses its warmth or charm. It's the sort of film you can happily watch again and again, always spotting another little gag or enjoying the performances all over again.
A genuinely funny and surprisingly sweet comedy that deserves far more recognition than it often receives.
Special features
- Widescreen and Fullscreen Versions of the Film
- "The love meter" Game
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Cast and Crew Biographies and Filmographies
- DVD-ROM Enhanced
