MOVIE OF THE WEEK 5/22/15: TOMORROWLAND
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| "Look behind me? What do you mean look behind me? The camera is over here!" (Casey) Britt Robertson gazes off into the distance before seeing the future utopia that lies ahead – or in this case, behind – her in a scene from Brad Bird's new sci-fi adventure TOMORROWLAND. Credit: © 2015 Walt Disney Pictures. All Rights Reserved. |
WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Britt Roberston, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy, Pierce Gagnon, Hugh Laurie, Tim McGraw, Thomas Robinson, Keegan Michael-Key and Kathryn Hahn
WRITER(S): Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof (screenplay); Brad Bird, Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen (story)
DIRECTOR(S): Brad Bird
WEB SITE: http://movies.disney.com/tomorrowland/
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Starting at the World's Fair in New York in 1964, Tomorrowland begins by introducing us to a young Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson). A young man who loves science, Frank has come to the event to show off his homemade jet pack, which fails to impress Nix (Hugh Laurie) since it doesn't quite, well, work. Frank's enthusiasm and determination does impress Athena (Raffey Cassidy), however, a young girl who gives him a pin that will change his life ...
Fast forward to the present and Casey (Britt Robertson) is a young girl with a NASA father (Tim McGraw) and a very aware for his age younger brother (Pierce Gagnon). With NASA set to tear down a former launch site she is intrigued by, Casey spends many of her nights snooping around the facility trying to discover why it's going to be destroyed. Those actions lead to her eventual temporary detainment ... Which is where she mysteriously obtains a pin emblazoned with a "T" on it she did not have before.
How is all of this connected? Well, let's just say the answer involves historical figures, robots, mysterious plans, international landmarks and an adventure truly out of this world.
Fast forward to the present and Casey (Britt Robertson) is a young girl with a NASA father (Tim McGraw) and a very aware for his age younger brother (Pierce Gagnon). With NASA set to tear down a former launch site she is intrigued by, Casey spends many of her nights snooping around the facility trying to discover why it's going to be destroyed. Those actions lead to her eventual temporary detainment ... Which is where she mysteriously obtains a pin emblazoned with a "T" on it she did not have before.
How is all of this connected? Well, let's just say the answer involves historical figures, robots, mysterious plans, international landmarks and an adventure truly out of this world.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Disney movie fans; George Clooney fans; people who like movies where a young actor is the best in the entire cast; environmentalists and peace activists.
WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN'T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Anti-climate change people; people who hate slapstick scenes in movies; those wanting a story based in the science of science fiction than the latter option; those who hate movies with potential to be more but stop at what feels like a basic level.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that has that classic stamp of Disney all over it (a character death, a message, slapstick silent movie-style comedy), Tomorrowland is at times charming, humorous and entertaining. At others, it is a little hammy, heavy-handed and predictable in a this-is-ok-but-we've-done-this way.
Fortunately, it is more of the former enough to make up for the latter to serve up a cinematic experience sure to please and placate most audiences.
There are things about Tomorrowland you'll really like: Cassidy is great as Athena, who is by far the most interesting character in the film and the one which drives (literally) Robertson's and Clooney's characters to into action. Without Cassidy, neither of Robertson's or Clooney's characters would be nearly as interested on their own, which is ironic because they are really great together in the film's second act. One also has to applaud co-writer/director Brad Bird (The Incredibles)'s attention to detail with things like the homage to science fiction past throughout the film, the not-so-subtle-or-at-least-tasteful integration of Disney's Tomorrowland attraction of the same name.
On the other hand, there's the ridiculous sequence involving Kathryn Hahn and Keegan Michael-Key you'll likely either love or loathe – as well as the over-the-top fake Matrix style agent Smiths that start pursuing our heroes, the extended travel sequences and special effects that aren't so much special as just necessary to move the story along. The film's moral has an important tone to it ... But one could argue it's a little heavy handed to the point it beats you – and the film's villain – over the head with it (again, literally).
While this may not seem to be giving you that much information, it's because giving you much more information would require the dreaded words "SPOILER ALERT" over and over again. But if you wonder what a young prodigy turned grumpy old man and young, wide-eyed girl that he once was like are doing when they are connected by a mysterious pin, you haven't seen enough sci-fi movies. If you CAN figure it out, however, you have seen enough of them where Tomorrowland won't surprise you or thrill you as much as it will placate you. You'll like it, sure enough, but you won't love it – and the movie had potential to cross into that coveted territory.
But in the meantime, Tomorrowland is satisfying enough to enjoy today before the future brings along a similar but better offering of its ilk.
Fortunately, it is more of the former enough to make up for the latter to serve up a cinematic experience sure to please and placate most audiences.
There are things about Tomorrowland you'll really like: Cassidy is great as Athena, who is by far the most interesting character in the film and the one which drives (literally) Robertson's and Clooney's characters to into action. Without Cassidy, neither of Robertson's or Clooney's characters would be nearly as interested on their own, which is ironic because they are really great together in the film's second act. One also has to applaud co-writer/director Brad Bird (The Incredibles)'s attention to detail with things like the homage to science fiction past throughout the film, the not-so-subtle-or-at-least-tasteful integration of Disney's Tomorrowland attraction of the same name.
On the other hand, there's the ridiculous sequence involving Kathryn Hahn and Keegan Michael-Key you'll likely either love or loathe – as well as the over-the-top fake Matrix style agent Smiths that start pursuing our heroes, the extended travel sequences and special effects that aren't so much special as just necessary to move the story along. The film's moral has an important tone to it ... But one could argue it's a little heavy handed to the point it beats you – and the film's villain – over the head with it (again, literally).
While this may not seem to be giving you that much information, it's because giving you much more information would require the dreaded words "SPOILER ALERT" over and over again. But if you wonder what a young prodigy turned grumpy old man and young, wide-eyed girl that he once was like are doing when they are connected by a mysterious pin, you haven't seen enough sci-fi movies. If you CAN figure it out, however, you have seen enough of them where Tomorrowland won't surprise you or thrill you as much as it will placate you. You'll like it, sure enough, but you won't love it – and the movie had potential to cross into that coveted territory.
But in the meantime, Tomorrowland is satisfying enough to enjoy today before the future brings along a similar but better offering of its ilk.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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