The 33rd annual Philadelphia Film Festival runs October 17-27, 2024 and features over 100 films this year. Most films play twice and our own Justin Nordell will be sharing “Philly Film Fest Fast Reviews” to give you a taste of the festival so you can pick and choose which films to make for the second screenings!
In the year 1999, three teens, Chengyong, Zha, and Paopao, all discover that they have the power to time travel 20 years into the future… by sneezing (don’t ask or think too much about it). Unfortunately when each of them make it to 2019, none of their hopes and dreams come true: one’s a criminal, one’s a low level photographer, and the last is… shacked up with one of the other boys high school girlfriend! But to make matters worse, they aren’t in each other’s lives or even friends any longer. Each time they sneeze themselves back and forth, more and more of an evil plot for world domination begins to take form, and they will need to band together in the past and in the future to stop it.
The costumes, effects, action, violence, and madcap jokes are all genuinely solid throughout, even though it may not all come together in the end. Escape From the 21st Century is one of those kitchen sink Japanese manic comedies that falls apart if you think about it for more than a second… but is a darn good time while watching.
Grade: B
Catch it at PFF33: Friday, October 25th at 10:00pm at the PFS Bourse
Tickets Available Here: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ticketsearchcriteria.aspx?evtinfo=429773
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