★★★½
After walking through the Nicholas building’s 1920s interior, the calming blue light and a television set depicting static cast the scene for Scott Limbrick’s The Last Blockbuster on Earth.
The show starts as the owner of the last Blockbuster thanks punters for making the long journey to his film rental store and asks for a volunteer. Limbrick appears, offering his help while bantering with the owner via voiceover, receiving laughs from the crowd all the while.
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Donning a red headband and an ammunition belt, Limbrick’s first costume change of the evening transforms him into Rambo as he looks back at action films of the past.
His take on the beloved action hero gives Limbrick the opportunity to point out the plot holes within various action films and plays on the absurdity of the genre.
This particular character depiction highlights the similarities and differences between everyday people and the classic action heroes from the ‘80s.
Flicking through popular genres, the show reminds us why we love, and sometimes hate, movies while providing plenty of laughs.
Limbrick, now in the sports genre, describes the downfall of a basketball career with teary eyes, reminding us of how biopics and documentaries always give the audience a way to relate to the character, no matter who is being portrayed.
This continues as he transforms into a leader of a casino heist who really just wants to find human connection.
Performance highlights include a surprise twist which rears its head amid Limbrick’s take on rom-coms, as well as the section where he becomes a tween trapped in a businessman’s body, reminiscent of classic comedies such as 13 Going on 30.
Decked out in a graduation gown and speaking to new graduates, he criticises the world of business today and makes some poignant yet comforting statements about wellbeing within corporate roles.
Much of The Last Blockbuster on Earth‘s success relies on Limbrick’s seemingly effortless transitions between characters. He takes his audience on a comical and nostalgic journey through classic cinema tropes while reminding us how we relate to films and why we enjoy them so much.
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Highlight: The 12-year-old in a businessman’s body
Lowlight: A few jokes were a little repetitive
Crowd favourite: The surprise rom-com twist
The Last Blockbuster on Earth runs Friday to Sunday until April 18 as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Tickets available via the MICF website.
