Late for Dinner

Late for Dinner is an enchanting romantic drama, dressed up as a science fiction film from 1991. Starring Peter Berg, Brian Wimmer, and Marcia Gay Harden, the movie artfully intertwines motifs of love, friendship, loyalty, and the unyielding march of time against the backdrop of a peculiar circumstance. Unique in its presentation and stirring in its storytelling, Late for Dinner is a film that captivates its audience with its heartfelt story coupled with the fascinating concept of time travel.

The film narrates the story of two simple, good-hearted protagonists, Willie Husband (Brian Wimmer) and his mentally challenged younger brother-in-law, Frank (Peter Berg). They are two close companions living an ordinary life in the 1960s in the waterside village of Taos, New Mexico. Willie is happily married to Joy (Marcia Gay Harden), who is also Frank's sister, and they have a little daughter named Jacqueline (Cassy Friel). The three make a loving family, and Joy and Frank share a protective relationship as brother and sister.

Willie and Frank's tranquil existence crumbles when they find themselves caught up in a complicated dispute with a ruthless property developer. The situation intensifies unexpectedly, and they become fugitives. While running from the law, they meet a strange but well-intentioned scientist named Dr. Dan Chilblains (Bo Brundin). Dr. Dan proposes a solution to their predicament that they couldn't possibly have imagined - cryonic suspension, or in simpler terms, freezing them in time.

The film fast-forwards to the 1990s as Willie and Frank wake up after being frozen for 29 years. Grappling with reality and the new world they find themselves in, the friends experience a colossal culture shock. From changes in fashion to technological upgrades, everything that was once familiar is now alienating. Their surrounding may have changed, but their integrity and devotion to their loved ones remain unaltered.

The plot deepens when Willie and Frank come to know that Joy, now aging and melancholic, is a widow and single parent, parent living far away in California. The film beautifully captures Willie's longing to reunite with the love of his life and his deep-rooted fear of how she will react to his unchanged youth and the fantastical truth behind his disappearance. It also emphasizes Frank's wish to protect and be with his sister, showcasing the unbreakable bond they share.

In Late for Dinner, Brian Wimmer gives a moving performance as Willie, perfectly capturing his character's loyalty, courage, and love for his family. Peter Berg shines as Frank, tugging the viewers' heartstrings with his pure and innocent soul. Marcia Gay Harden is remarkable as Joy, powerfully projecting her struggles as a single mother and her longing for her lost husband.

The film is a beautiful blend of science fiction, drama, and romance that keeps the audience guessing and hoping. Peter Yates beautifully directs Late for Dinner, instilling life into Mark Andrus’s intriguing script with delicate imagery and contrasting times. Yates fluidly guides the narrative between different eras, with realistic contrasts accomplished by the crafty employment of period-specific set designs, costumes, and background scores. Together, these elements create a strange yet familiar world where audiences can lose themselves.

Late for Dinner, while having a sci-fi element, largely centers around human emotions, relationships, and time's ability to alter reality. The concept of time travel is treated with such sensitivity and sensibility that audiences can closely relate to the characters' experiences. The film emphasizes the power of love and loyalty that refuses to bow down to the cruelties of time and fate.

In essence, Late for Dinner is a commendable film that merges the realms of fantasy and reality for a touching narrative about treasuring relations and dealing with change. The film might not have been a box office sensation, but it treats its audience to a thoroughly engrossing experience, making it a hidden gem worth discovering in the realm of science fiction and romantic dramas.