Strange but not a Stranger
Blast Brings the '60s to the '90s

The first good comedy of 1999 has finally arrived. In a surprisingly clever story, Brendan Fraser plays Adam Webber, a boy raised in his family fallout shelter since birth. But more than just a "man out of time" story, Blast from the Past makes being square hip, in a retro sort of way.

When the Cold War heats up in 1962, a genius inventor Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken) takes his pregnant wife (Sissy Spacek) into their underground fallout shelter. By a quirk of fate, a fighter jet malfunctions in the air over California and crashes down on the unsuspecting family's house. When his instruments register a massive explosion on the surface, Calvin assumes that a nuclear war has begun and locks his family inside for 35 years.

His wife soon gives birth to a son, whom they name Adam. They raise him to be educated, well mannered, and respectful of their 1960s mores. When the fateful day comes and the shelter's automatic locks open, Calvin emerges into the night to find a horrible world. Returning to his family, he begs them to remain underground and subsequently suffers an anxiety attack. Needing supplies, Adam volunteers to venture outside.

Adam soon encounters a young woman named Eve (Alicia Silverstone) and is instantly smitten. Pretending to be from out of town, Adam takes the opportunity to solicit her help in gathering supplies for his family. She introduces him to her friend Troy (Dave Foley), and with their help, Adam discovers a world he never imagined existed.

While the premise for Blast from the Past is more than a little bizarre, there are moments of outrageous comedy combined with a sweet story of innocence rediscovered. Fraser may not win any awards for his portrayal of Adam, but he manages to remain true to his character without appearing like a freak. His innocence is never mocked, but seen as childlike and full of wonder.

Many people have compared Fraser's role here to the revived caveman he played in his breakout film Encino Man. In fact, Adam has more in common with Jim Carrey's character in The Truman Show, in that his innocence is enlightening, showing us what is wrong with our own world. Also, unlike the recent movie Pleasantville, the simplicity of yesteryear is not scorned as "sappy," but revered.

No disrespect to the entire cast's good work, but Walken is easily the best thing about this film. His eccentric scientist is so flawless in his anti-social manners that it is easy to believe that he would not mind living underground. His distrust of the Russians is equally comical, and helps to motivate his character. Yet, there is a very human side to him as well, especially in his desire to educate his son.

I heartily recommend this film to anyone who is looking for a silly comedy, or two hours of entertainment. It is a laugh-out-loud kind of movie, and well worth the effort.

MY RATING: 8 out of 10.

RATED: PG13
RUN TIME: 102 min.