Watch Late for Dinner
- PG
- 1991
- 1 hr 33 min
-
6.5 (1,906)
Late for Dinner is a heartwarming and humorous drama set in the 1960s that explores the age-old question of "what if?" The film stars Peter Berg, Brian Wimmer, and Marcia Gay Harden and was directed by W.D. Richter. It was released in 1991 and has since become a cult classic. The film opens in the 1960s with the two main characters, Willie and Frank, living in small-town California. Willie (Brian Wimmer) is a lovable goofball who works as a gas station attendant, while his best friend Frank (Peter Berg) is a serious-minded scientist. The two couldn't be more different, but they're the best of friends, and they're always looking out for each other.
One day, Willie and Frank decide to embark on a road trip to Mexico, but they get lost and end up in a small town in New Mexico. While there, they decide to grab a quick bite to eat at a diner, but they end up running late and accidentally freeze themselves in a cryogenic chamber. They're then revived 29 years later, in 1991, to a world that has moved on without them.
The rest of the movie follows the two men as they try to adjust to life in the '90s while also trying to reconnect with their loved ones who have aged 29 years since they last saw them. They meet up with Frank's wife and daughter, who are now in their thirties, and they begin to rebuild their relationships. However, they soon realize that their new lives are not everything they hoped they would be, and they long for the simpler, more innocent life they once knew.
One of the highlights of the movie is the performances of the lead actors. Peter Berg and Brian Wimmer have great chemistry and play off each other perfectly. Berg's portrayal of Frank is particularly noteworthy, as he manages to capture the character's humor, intelligence, and emotional depth. Marcia Gay Harden also gives a standout performance as Willie's wife, Joy, providing a strong emotional anchor for the film.
Another standout aspect of the movie is its production design. The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing the look and feel of both the 1960s and the 1990s. They also managed to create a believable cryogenic chamber sequence that was both visually striking and emotionally affecting.
Overall, Late for Dinner is a charming and unique film that is sure to appeal to fans of time-travel movies, as well as those who enjoy heartwarming dramas. It's a movie that explores the power of friendship, the importance of family, and the universal desire to make the most of the time we have. While it may not have been a box office success, it has since gained a cult following and is well worth a watch.
Late for Dinner is a 1991 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.