Blast from the Past (1999)

A romantic comedy about a naive man who comes out into the world after being in a nuclear fallout shelter for 35 years.

Director:

Hugh Wilson

Writers:

Bill Kelly (story), Bill Kelly (screenplay),

Stars:

Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brendan Fraser	...	Adam
Alicia Silverstone	...	Eve
Christopher Walken	...	Calvin
Sissy Spacek	...	Helen
Dave Foley	...	Troy
Joey Slotnick	...	Soda Jerk
Dale Raoul	...	Mom
Hayden Tank	...	Adam age 3½
Douglas Smith	...	Adam age 11
Ryan Sparks	...	Adam age 8
Don Yesso	...	Jerry
Scott Thomson	...	Young Psycho
Ted Kairys	...	Navy Pilot
Rex Linn	...	Dave
Cynthia Mace	...	Betty

Storyline

Adam Weber is the child of an eccentric inventor and his wife. Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webers in their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam Weber must venture out into Los Angeles and obtain food and supplies for his family. He meets Eve, who reluctantly agrees to help him out.

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Plot Keywords:

bomb shelter | 1960s | food | cuban missile crisis | naive man | 

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Taglines:

She'd never met anyone like him. He's never met anyone... Period.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief language, sex and drug references

Details

Official Sites:

New Line

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German Latin

Release Date:

12 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buscando a Eva

Filming Locations:

1972 Canyon Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£266,625 (UK) (2 April 1999)

Gross:

$26,494,611 (USA) (14 May 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forge, Midnight Sun Pictures, New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In keeping with the theme that the late 90's are a "new world" for the Webbers, the main characters are named Adam and Eve.

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Goofs

During the dance sequence at Club 40s, Brendan Fraser's stunt double is obviously a double, during the more strenuous moves. They look very alike, especially as to their hair, but the double's face is partially visible at times.

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Quotes

Eve: [to Adam, about Troy] He's gay, by the way.
Adam: [thinking she means that Troy is happy] Well, good for you!

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Connections

References Shelf Life (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Honey Please"
Written by Chris Karn
Performed by Sonichrome
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

Terrific fun time-hopping fish out of water tale.

See the movie to find out why, but Brendan Fraser's crazy dad has had him underground for thirty years in an elaborate bomb shelter, so that when Brendan finally goes upstairs in the 90's to get more supplies for his parents, he's in for a bit of a shock.

Christopher Walken is wonderful as the crazy, atomic-age inventor. Alicia Silverstone deserves to be on screen more - she's cute and sassy as the love interest, but still pulls funny faces with her mouth. Brendan Fraser was a perfect choice for the biggest fish out of water ever. His fresh-faced naivety is so convincing. He's larger than life, and sometimes so naive its corny, but he's consistent, so it works. Depending on what mood you're in, Sissy Spacek's part adds psychological depth to the movie or detracts a tad from the fun.

This movie is not at all implausible. There were many people as scared as Christpher Walken during the 60's. In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy and Khruschev were one button press away from blowing us all to smithereens (see Thirteen Days for a historically accurate portrayal of this). And Walken's character is set up as crazy enough to build and stock his shelter with 30 years worth of supplies.

8/10. Terrific fun time-skipping romantic comedy buoyed by the personality of Fraser - perfect to watch with a sweetheart, or with family on a warm weekend in.