Generation

Okay, this is but one of many made for tv movies of the eighties that tried to envision the future. However this one stands out a little. Why? Because it could have been a really interesting concept in following the lives of a family during the year 1999. However, though not acurate in terms of prediction or award winning in storyline aside Generations presents a family in fast forward social disarray. Father (Beymer)is an engineer fast tracking for success and practically forgetting everything else, mother (DuBois)a social worker who is charming but a bit bitchy at times and the daughter (Cutrona) a science prodigy astronaut wannabe future child with way too much time on her hands as her parents are never home enough. But it does'nt stop there, we have the uncle(Hogestyn) a pro-combat hockey star who's affraid his brother's invention (powered hockey armor)will cause crippling injuries and ruin the oh so futuristic sport and the aunt(Raines)a roving surgeon on a futuristic mobile surgical unit that patrols the streets of this futuristic LA. As the movie wears on, we are treated to really glitzy prototype vehicles, electronic appliances and jargon all of which the year 1999 will never hold for all of us (Really!!). As well we are treated to the complexities of daily life in the city and a general disregard for the viewers patience. Overall not a winner flick but better than such ABC movie stinkers like Northstar or Condor.

Now that I've watched it I can say that I loved it. Yes cheesy, yes corny but I'm a sucker for anything that is "future-y", just can't help it.

The storyline was plausible though not very accurate, 15 years in advance might not be a long time to forecast but they picked the WRONG 15 year period. Think about all that happened in technology between 1985 and 1999, the year in which this movie takes place. So many things, the least of which is the internet. There's a scene where the girl is doing homework in front of her computer and she turns to her parents and asks, "Who was the president after Ronald Reagan?" and her mom tells her to "look it up". Isn't that (and any) a question to ask the computer? Laughable! And the biggest "miss", the representation of the Los Angeles street gang, which was oddly non-Latino. Ludicrously absurd and glaringly inaccurate. During one of the street fights one guy takes out another guy with a slingshot! No joke. I think the level of available firepower any name-brand LA street gang has is a couple notches above a slingshot. To express civil disobedience they all blow whistles in unison. Seriously, stop laughing. And the weirdest line of all? The one about "explaining the war with Mexico". It doesn't go any further but the line was delivered definitively. Hmm.

Anyway, nice try at futuristic Sci-Fi on a TV movie budget. Obviously, so obviously, they didn't have mucho bucks to work with here. But the family drama is intact on a few different levels, the sports parallel was funky enough and best of all... there were CARS! Only about 8 in total but some cool future oddities including a low slung yellow roadster and what looks like a minivan of today. The police car has a funny whooshy rocket turbine sound, like a large vacuum cleaner coming in for a landing. Aren't all police cars turbine powered these days? This movie was an enjoyable hoot. I literally watched it twice in a 12 hour period and I can't wait to share it with a few friends. It will be hard to be quiet while they watch though, some parts are just too funny! 7 stars out of 10, highly recommended on a kitschy level.