There is no shortage of coming of age films that dive into the deep existential dread that most people experience at the mere thought of growing up; Lady Bird, Eighth Grade, Boyhood, Booksmart…the list goes on.
Escape from the 21st Century is another good example of a film that falls into this category, but sets itself apart with its dystopian world setting, basing around an Earth-like planet that only experiences 12 hour days. Set in 1999, we follow three 18 year old school friends who suddenly get the ability to travel forward to 2019 after being submerged in a lake full of toxic polluted chemicals. The upside? They can travel into their 38 year old bodies, all by simply sneezing, something that ultimately leaves their 1999 bodies limp and unresponsive.
In their youth, Wang Chengyong (Zhuozhao Li), Wang Zha (Yichen Chen) and Paopao (Qixuan Kang) are the type of reckless, yet valiant school friends who are constantly out for trouble both amongst their peers and the world around them. But the shift into their adult bodies shows that they have fallen far from who they once used to be.
Once the most popular boy in school, Wang Chengyong (Yang Song) has shockingly become part of an organ trafficking ring; Wang Zha (Ruoyun Zhang), the goofy and dedicated friend of the group, has grown up to be an investigative journalist, unhealthily obsessed with his colleague; and Paopao (Leon Lee), the once overweight and bullied teen, is now considerably buff and genuinely quite content with his life. We watch as they jump back and forth between their younger and the adult iterations, fighting the reality of who they are to become in 2019.
Full of silly and comical moments that bring to mind the style of Scott Pilgrim vs.The World, particularly in the way the intense action scenes are often complimented by animated graphic effects, the overall premise of the film is almost just as vivid and fantastical as the visuals the film portrays.
There seems to be absolutely no rules in the world we’ve landed in. The lack of any sort of gravitational pull feels normal in their world, as everyone seems to be an expert at martial arts and consistently defying gravity. People can move in slow motion in real time without anyone batting an eye. People in their world can even experience what initially looks to be a gruesome and horrible demise, yet they’ll stand right back up as if it was just a superficial wound. These outlandish elements help play into the extremely comedic nature of the film, and give space for the absurd and wacky type graphics that contribute to the scene.
Yet there is often a massive juxtaposition in the film with moments of sincerity sprinkled throughout, particularly surrounding the grief of Chengyong when he understands who he has become in 2019, and who he may have lost along the way, drug-fuelled addictions that have more or less caused the collapse of certain characters, and Paopao’s struggles of hating his 1999 self.
Escape from the 21st Century is a tonally weird film, with authentic heartfelt moments paired with its bizarre premise and overall nature. While at times the shift felt a little like whiplash, it strangely matched and mimicked what being alive can mean for most, if not all people – a life full of completely devastating and honest moments, while still reeling in the joy and absolute madness (in the best way) it can offer.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Escape from the 21st Century is playing as part of this year’s Fantastic Film Festival Australia, running between April 24th and May 16th, 2025. For more information session times, visit the official site here.
