Blast from the Past
Directed by Hugh Wilson
- drama
- romance
- comedy
The story
Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webbers into their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam now ventures forth into Los Angeles to obtain food and supplies for his family, and a non-mutant wife for himself.
What it’s like
Warm, washed-out suburban colour in the opening stretch gives way to bright, flat 1990s Los Angeles daylight, the contrast carried by bunker interiors lit in dim, yellowed tones and a nervous handheld wobble that settles into easy, conventional coverage once the film lands in the outside world. The score is cheerful and brassy, with retro lounge cues that toy with mid-century kitsch, and the production design is a playful pile of period detail: fallout-shelter canned goods, wood-panelled rooms, and a city full of neon-bright pop-culture distractions. The vibe is light, sunny and self-aware, a sweet comedy for a lazy afternoon or a comfort rewatch with friends. Pacing is brisk and episodic, the emotional register gently romantic and affectionate, and the central arc follows a sheltered man learning to navigate modern life and slowly opening his heart to a woman who is at first more bemused than charmed. Intensity is very low: some slapstick and a few mild comic peril moments, with no real gore and only light innuendo. It suits viewers who want something gentle, funny and easygoing, and anyone who enjoys a retro-tinged fish-out-of-water romance.
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