Future '38

I won't bury the lede: this is brilliant. I had mixed expectations, not least off all on account of the small-fries nature of the production that could go either way. Rather immediately, however, 'Future '38' demonstrates just how delightfully smart and clever it is. I deeply admire the central conceit, that the film we're watching is a long-lost title from 1938. Filmmaker Jamie Greenberg worked overtime to weave in every thread that he could to emphasize and build on that notion. The dazzlingly direct storytelling and plot progression, spry runtime, and brisk pace pointedly reflect the common film-making approach of old movies from the 1930s. The plot, characters, scene writing, and especially the dialogue all very mindfully echo the language, values, customs, and cinematic standards of 80 years past. Meanwhile, props, effects, set design and decoration, and no few jokes are wonderfully intelligent as they represent a modern person's reimagination of how a 30s screenwriter might conceive the subsequent years to have unfolded. Equally witty are those instances of modern slang, innuendo, or inventions that are interpreted, through the same lens, to mean something very different. I unremittingly love 'Future '38.'

As if all this weren't enough - and it absolutely is - the other elements of the picture are just as strong. A marginally grainy image, and occasional clips in the "reel," pair with sound design that is, deliberately, ever so slightly tinny, mirroring the technological capabilities of the era and degradation of prints. The very accents and mannerisms that the cast adopt feel like they were pulled directly from movies of the 1930s. The costume design and hair and makeup work are impeccable, gorgeous, and fanciful, and like everything else in the in-universe conception of 2018 pop with lush, vivid color that's joyously fetching. The approach taken in the story to time travel is as simple and forthright as the plot progression generally, yet at that is more concise and less convoluted than what many other sci-fi flicks have tried to serve up. And the cast! One must note genre luminaries Sean Young and Ethan Phillips who fill small parts, but moreover, the principals are a blast. Among all others, Nick Westrate and Betty Gilpin are a hoot as they lean, lean, lean into the playful tomfoolery of the feature, and it's so fun to watch them work.

Gosh golly jeepers, what more can one even say, least of all without betraying plot points? 'Future '38' is exceptional. It's purposefully ham-handed, contrived, and distinctly staged in all the exact same ways that some old movies are, only with the faintest modern sensibility to greet viewers with a wink. This is a sci-fi comedy like no other that readily comes to mind - it rather seems to me as though it bridges a generation gap, wherein audiences who favor old movies may be able to enjoy it just as much as those who prefer modern titles. True, if one can't get on board with the consciously kitschy cleverness, then I can see how it won't appeal to all comers. Yet I watch this and see a far too little-known 21st century film that comes off as a loving, respectful homage to another era, while also staking its own ground in the present. I can only thank Greenfield, and his cast and crew, for a fabulously entertaining, satisfying, and rewarding viewing experience. 'Future '38' is far more than I ever could have anticipated, and I immediately want to watch it again!

To begin, this movie is not for everyone.

It creates and inhabits its own world. You'll either go along for the ride...or not.

For one thing, it's hard to categorize. Sci-fi? Well... sort of. Comedy? Hopefully. Romance? I think so. Satire? I sure hope so.

But if you do hop aboard, you'll be rewarded with more cleverness and originality than any ten other movies I've seen recently...combined.

I won't describe the plot. It's too weird, and doesn't matter that much anyway.

Just sit back, watch, enjoy, try to get all the hilarious details, and watch it again to see how much you missed the first time.

"Isn't this a nice party?" "There is something wrong with my herring!" "ISN'T THIS A NICE PARTY?!?"

Okay, lines like that make me laugh. And there were a lot of lines like that.

I was really sceptical about watching this, as these retro movies tend to cheap and boring. But "Future 38" was a delight to watch, good performances and some laugh out loud moments. Definitely recommended. Fun entertainment, I rate it 8/10

This film sets out to do its thing and then sticks with it. In terms of a film experience, most of what I didn't like was almost certainly intentional in its mimicking of films from that era. I'm not a fan of those but I can't fault Future '38 for having the integrity to stick with them. Most of the obvious visual comedy fell flat for me but the film more than makes up for it and is worth watching alone simply for the wonderfully 1940s banter, especially that as delivered by the two leads.