Customer Reviews

Blast From the Past [VHS]

5 star:		(126)
4 star:		(58)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I have seen this movie twice and have loved it both times. It is a funny and endearing romantic comedy that is peppered with a terrific cast and excellent performances. I would gladly watch it again.

Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken), a nerdy, nutty scientist, and his traditional and very pregnant wife, Helen (Sissy Spacek), are living in California in fifties style splendor in the early nineteen sixties, when the Cuban Missile Crisis occurs. Buying into the red scare of the day and convinced that attack by the communists is imminent, they immediately go underground into the super deluxe bomb shelter that Calvin had had the foresight to build under his house and fully equip with enough supplies to last thirty five years. No sooner do they do so, Calvin's fears are reinforced, as suddenly a force of great impact shudders overhead. Thinking that they were hit by an atomic blast set off by the communists, they hunker down for the next thirty five years, waiting for the radiation to dissipate.

In the interim, they have a baby boy, whom they name Adam (Brendan Fraser). As Adam grows up, he is unknowingly caught in a time warp with his parents, as they have no contact with the outside world. Adam's world view and values reflect that of his parents, as his entire life, thus far, has been spent underground soley in their company. When the thirty five years are up, Calvin surfaces briefly to check the state of affairs topside. What he sees, he misinterprets, and upon his return to the bomb shelter ends up having a heart attack. He and Helen then dispatch Adam on a reconnaissance mission to get needed supplies.

What transpires when Adam ventures into the outside world is very funny and often poignant. As played by Brendan Fraser, the thirty five year old Adam, a fresh faced, polite virgin with no fashion sense, has a Dudley-Do-Right quality and a load of goofy, sincere charm that ensures the comedic success of this film. His foray into the outside world, his endearingly innocent interpretation of all that he sees, and his interaction with others will leave the viewer laughing. When he runs into Eve (Alicia Silverstone), the hard edged, appropriately named, beautiful blonde with a heart of gold, he is smitten. Together they will leave the viewer hoping that Adam and Eve will find the Garden of Eden.

Christopher Walker is wonderful as the slightly nutty, paranoid but brilliant scientist. Sissy Spacek shows a distinct comedic flair as the patient and long suffering wife who buys into her husband's vision of things. Dave Foley of "Kids in the Hall" fame is terrific as Eve's drolly funny, gay roommate. Alicia Silverstone, while ostensibly the weakest link in this otherwise brilliantly cast comedy, still manages to give a more than acceptable performance as the cynical Eve. It is Brendan Fraser, however, with his aw-shucks, innocent veneer, who deftly steals the show right under everyone's nose. His charming and funny, ingratiating performance is one that will have the viewer watching this film over and over again. This is a must have comedy for one's personal collection.

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.

In 1962, my junior high school science roject was to build a model fall-out shelter, complete with lists of supplies for 30 years underground. My father, who was a scientist, hung out with a bunch of guys who so closely resemble Calvin Weber (Christopher Walken) that I was startled to see him in the movie. These guys built hi-fis and robots in their basements for fun; and yes, my parents listened to Perry Como! BFTP portrays the essence of those times fondly and with a pointed humor. Both Sissy Spacek (the mother) and Christopher Walken (the father) do beautifully comic turns in this film as a couple having retreated to their fall-out shelter for a 35 year stay in the mistaken belief that Los Angeles has been bombed.

Brendan Fraser's performance as the bright but impossibly naiive Adam Weber is brilliant. Playing a totally sheltered (no pun intended) 35 year-old encountering the outside world for the first time, Fraser manages through use of his mobile facial features and skillful body language to look like a nerdy 14 year old. The performance was strongly reminiscent of Tom Hanks in BIG.

Alicia Silverstone and Dave Foley play strong supporting roles as Eve, Adam's love interest, and her gay room-mate Troy. The strongest scenes in the movie feature all three of them. For major laughs, watch Eve and Troy's faces while they watch Adam make a splash on the dance floor.

This movie made me a Brendan Fraser fan. I liked it so much I bought copies for several people for Christmas. Lest you think this is only for Boomers, I showed it to a 24 year old friend who completely cracked up over it.

Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone head up a wonderful cast in this lighthearted romantic comedy about a man named Adam Weber's (Fraser) first steps into society after being in a fallout shelter for his entire life. Fraser's parents are played by the flawless Christopher Walken and the wonderful Sissy Spacek. Walken is a scientist who mistakes a plane crash in his backyard for a Cuban nuclear missile strike. He takes his family into a fallout shelter and waits until the time is right to surface. After thirty-five years, things have changed a tad and he arises to find Joey Slotnick managing a rundown bar/soda fountain. Thinking that Walken is God, or something similar at least, Slotnick becomes Archbishop Melker in one of the funniest characters I've seen in awhile. After suffering severe shock, it is decided that Adam should be the one to go to the surface in search of supplies. He's told to avoid the adult magazine store (invisible, poisonous gas) and to bring back a suitable girlfriend for obvious reasons.

Fraser surfaces and begins his quest for food and a woman. Along the way, he experiences the wonders of color television and sees a black postal worker that illicits one of the funniest lines in the flick. He runs into Alicia Silverstone, properly named Eve, and befriends her when he realizes he needs a co-pilot in this strange land. He is then introduced to her friend, Dave Foley, who turns in another wonderful performance. The story rolls along with Silverstone trying to determine whether or not Adam is off his rocker and falls in love with him along the way. That's about all I can say without spoiling anything.

The fish-out-of-water concept turns in quite a few hilarious scenarios in this film. Fraser was perfectly cast due to the fact that he can become so innocent and gosh-darn nice that his character is very believable.

Pick this one up for a great romantic comedy. It's light, a little silly at times, but is well worth watching.

Highly recommended.

My family and I went to see "Blast From The Past" 3 times while in theatrical release. It was funny, heartwarming and depicted good family values. I held Brendan Fraser's character of Adam up to my daughter as "the kind of guy her Dad and I would like to see her bring home". Fraser as Adam, Christopher Walken & Sissy Spacek as his parents and Dave Foley as his new found friend were all tremendous and very, very funny! Alicia Silverstone turned out a fine performance as well. There are scenes in "Blast From The Past" at which I laughed so hard I could hardly breathe. The moment I found it was out on DVD I raced to my favorite store, Amazon.com, to order our family copy. Hope we don't wear the DVD out! Looking for a truly entertaining film that's worth popping the popcorn and gathering the family around for a terrific evening of movie watching? You'll find it with "Blast From The Past"!

I didn't see this film in the theaters. But, after enjoying The Mummy, I wanted to try out another Brendan Fraser film. I was totally surprised by this film. It was refreshing, somewhat original and very funny throughout. I was also surprised by Christopher Walken, finally proving he can be funny outside his excellent Saturday Night Live performances. Fraser was convincing and didn't go over-the-top with his role. The DVD version is clear sounds good and while it doesn't have too many extra features, it is nice to have a choice between full and wide screens. I give this film a B+

This terrific feel good film is just right for all ages. It has great acting, a wonderful romantic story, and an even better message. With many memorable scenes, lines, and a great soundtrack.

Christopher Walken is hilarious as a fun-loving genius that is utterly paranoid of the Soviet Empire.

Adam has been living in a fallout shelter for his entire life and suddenly is free and required to come above ground. Adam's naive and innocent character makes for many funny moments.
Eve: A "Rob Roy," I thought only hookers drank that stuff.
Adam: Well I know mom sure loves them.

The movie is full of great writing and memorable lines.
Adam: Mom, dad, we must hurry I'm being chased by a psychologist.
Crazy Friend: It's ok, it happens from time to time to everyone.

The movie really shows how our society has lost some of its innocents, however it also shows the beauty of a loving family, the true love between a man and a woman, and the importance of a fallout shelter.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone. I've seen it many times and it never gets old.

In My Humble Opinion
John G (Find Me)

OK, you can read the 128 other reviews, many of which feel compelled to tell the plot of this movie when Amazon has already done so, or you can take 60 seconds and hear my opinion for what it's worth...

This is not a complex movie, it is meant to be a funny look at the culture shock Brendan Fraser gets when he emerges from 30 years in a fallout shelter into modern-day L.A. And guess what, it is funny! All the actors give fine performances, the criticism of Alicia Silverstone is unwarranted because she is SUPPOSE to be playing a whiney, self-centered, shallow Los Angelan. The cussing is necessary to prove a point, and it is kept to a minimum. All in all it is a lighthearted movie with a good ending. Sure, it may be somewhat predictible, but it is entertaining and well worth renting and buying.

OK, I asked for a minute of your life to hear my opinion, and that is it. Thanks for your time, I hope it was worth it!

"Blast from the Past" is a consistently funny film about a man who was born in a fall-out shelter in the San Fernando valley living with his parents until coming out when he is 35. A majority of the film's laughs derive while they are underground oblivious to the changes that have gone on. This can be credited to the performances of old pros Christopher Walken as the eccentric professor and Sissy Spacek as his wife. The laughs are less sporadic when Adam (Brendan Fraser) emerges from the shelter though Dave Foley gives a good performance as Alicia Silverstone's gay friend, a character type that has become cliched but Foley transcends that. The film can also be faulted for overlength but on the whole the laugh quotient is pretty high so I recommend it.

What an adorable movie is Blast From the Past. The acting is fabulous and the story is just precious. Plus, the characters were all so nice (it was hard for me to root for Meg Ryan in Kate and Leopold because she was such a witch) that you immediately wanted Eve and Adam to get together.

Since I am a child of the 60's, I do remember bomb shelters and bomb drills so the concept was not entirely unbelievable. This is one of the few FAMILY films that appeals to young and old. No violence and very little bad language. This movie makes me happy (all ten times that I have seen it) and it will you too!