User reviews

I came across this movie while looking at what else Betty Gilpin (GLOW) has been in. The described plot seemed so odd, I had to watch it. Bonus: For old Blade Runner fans, Sean Young had a very odd but appropriate presence in this story as the "telephone" operator, Mabel.

First thing to note, this movie is most obviously not from 1938. Instead, it's a humorous parody of movies from the past and how they pictured the future. Think of old 1930s and 40s films and comic stips that showed flying cars, and wrist watch phones (errr... they were right on that count). They also combine real 2018 objects, business names, and slang but used in completely different "old fashioned" ways. The thug with a "strap on" (shoulder holster with a gun) who is "gonna nail ya" (shoot you) is a striking example.

Recently I saw the film "Movie, Movie" (1978) which was more of an homage/parody of old 1930s cinema. Future '38 is kind of cut from the same cloth but with less homage and a lot more parody. The production itself is low quality in that once things go in color, it really doesn't try to emulate the look and feel of early color films like The Wizard of Oz. Instead it is digital video run through generic filters. That's OK, because I believe the story and parody are the primary reasons this movie exists.

As interesting as the idea of this movie is, and the pretty well concealed and somewhat anticlimactic twist, it still was hard to watch. The intentionally hammy acting was funny, but also distracting. The occasional insertion of real 21st century business names, slang and the like was a continual reminder that this is fully a 21st century film. "Movie, Movie" actually managed to lure me into feeling like I was watching a movie from cinema's golden age. But that only points more to the fact that this movie was less about honoring old cinema than poking fun at it as well as the 21st century itself.

If you're a fan of offbeat and unusual movies, this would definitely be worth a watch. But don't expect a movie with high production values. Expect an interesting/entertaining story more akin to watching an absurdist play. Additionally, Ethan Phillips (Neelix from Star Trek Voyager) has a role at the start of the film as well. And... Neil DeGrasse Tyson (obviously in on the joke). Don't let other reviews dissuade you from watching it. They're either trolling or just can't cope with absurdist parody.

Comedy is hard but the writers of Future '38 were spot on, almost. The repartee was lighting fast but the timing was still perfect and allowed the audience to keep up. There were only a few places where the laughs tapered off, but it always picked up again. The humor was respectful of today's P.C. sensibilities, passing up on some low-hanging jokes that might have crossed the line for some. With the exception of its blatant anti-Germanic bigotry and a few other stereotypes/ethnic jokes (Irish, African American, Jewish), the film is really progressive. ("They're jolly, what of it?... City hall's been hitching jollies for forty years.")

Many in the audience will miss some of the slang and early twentieth century references, but there's enough here to keep everyone laughing. Especially funny was the humorous treatment of time-travel paradoxes and the "parlor tricks" performed by Essex with Elke and others.

The acting was very well done for a comedy of this sort, and the plot was easy to follow. The cinematography was technically adequate and didn't overshadow the players/dialogue, although it would have been nice to put a little more effort into getting the color/tone to match those over-saturated, 80-year-old films. The cue marks were a wonderful touch!

Overall, well worth watching, especially for old movie buffs and scifi fans.

Triggers: Ethnic humor -- anti-Germanic bigotry, Irish, African American, Jewish ethnic jokes/stereotypes; Violence by the protagonists -- fists, gun brandishing (and the obligatory vase smash to the head).

It was an interesting concept to have the 1938 guy go into a future that 1938 folks might have imagined, except with the over the topness of the movie. However, it was not able to hold my interest long enough to find out how he saved the world.

"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.

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.

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

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.

I have watched this movie at least four times, and every time I catch something I didn't see before. There's always a nice surprise waiting.

Time travel (or time displacement, such as "Demolition Man") is one of my favorite genres, whether it's drama or comedy. But, despite watching every time travel flick I come across, I can think of nothing to compare this with. It isn't "Back to the Future," but it doesn't try to be. Great sight gags, sly references, slapstick, puns ... this movie isn't afraid to try anything. And it succeeds when maybe it probably shouldn't. Yes, there's some "BTTF" here, but there's also some "Airplane!" and hints of Mel Brooks.

I went into my first viewing not knowing anything about it, and for two seconds I thought it was, truly, a resurfaced lost movie. Alas, Neil de Grasse Tyson giving an introduction with a tub of popcorn the size of washing machine pretty much dispelled any idea that something old had been unearthed. But 10 minutes in, I didn't care one bit. The quick word punches, vibrant background gags, and a sincere commitment to the premise made this enormously enthralling. And - dare I say it? - Betty Gilpin struck me as someone who is going to make a strong and serious dramatic turn one day.

There's really no way this movie should have worked, and it amazes me that it did. It's B-movie escapism with a complete lack of self-importance while maintaining respect for the audience. In other words, "let's just have some fun." If there's a message here, it got lost on me. And I don't have a problem with that.

I'm a big fan of filmmaker Larry Blamire's work, starting with "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra". This film is made in a similar style, showing a great appreciation and love for its genre (although, not the SAME genre). Mostly unfamiliar actors accompany Betty Gilpin in this homage, and she may be unfamiliar to most, unless you've seen GLOW or the Margaret Mitchell series from earlier this year (I haven't yet, but I will). Loved the spiffy period jargon, and the predictions of future science wonders. (Missed smartphones by THAT much!) It was also great seeing Sean Young in a small but very prominent role. As a plus, it's pleasantly short, not that it couldn't have been longer, but sometimes you don't want a 2+ hour commitment to a movie.

It does a great job of capturing the pace, rhythm and snappy dialog of a genuine 1930s-era film, with plenty of satire and just good-old fashioned funny dialog.

Another reviewer compared it to Airplane, and I see what they mean. Both take a genre of film that has a very specific style, and honors that style while still doing a parody of it.

The short 75 minute runtime is similar to that of many films from the 1930s, back before two and a half hours become the norm. It also allows them to keep the pace up, which is a key element to this kind of film.

The twist near the end actually caught me by surprise!

All in all, a very enjoyable film. Might watch it again with friends, especially if they're movie buffs.

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!

This movie absolutely ROCKS!

Run, don't walk to your television and see how the future looked from a 1938 perspective. This is a brilliant film about a man who is thrown forward in time by the War Department on special mission in hopes of preventing the rise of Hitler and the Second World War.

There's a brief introduction by Niel DeGrasse Tyson, the famous astrophysicist, describing how this film emerged.

The dialog is excellent. Quick, smart, snarky. The quips are fast and stylized, reminiscent of such classics as "The Philadelphia Story," and "Dinner at Eight." The movie is utterly engaging and entertaining from the opening credits to the final "The End" that closes the film. This is a real gem!

It has flavors of the movie "Just Imagine," a 1930 sci-fi musical view of the New York of 1980, and the General Motors "Futurama" ride at the World's Fair in 1939 predicting a future of soaring skyscrapers, fabulous cars, and a bright future. If you enjoyed the old, fanciful Jules Verne movies you'll love this.

There are plenty of predictive revelations in the movie that have actually come to be. Well, more or less. Wireless picture phones? Check. Texting? Yep. The 24 hour news cycle? It's here. But none of it looks quite the way it was predicted.

Acting and story are first rate.

Cinematography and special effects are good, especially considering it's a 1938 film!

The movie has a cartoon-like quality to it, which works very much in its favor. And if you want to know the answer to the riddle, "What do you wait for, but never want, and follow by stopping," you'll have to watch the movie.