I remember when Disney movies had genuinely terrifying moments but also a deep message to convey. I remember watching Disney movies that though they might have had a PG-13, PG or even G at times, technically should have had a higher rating. Through these movies I was given glimpses into the world of adults. Sheltered for most of the film, but given a moment where the film grabbed me by the ears like an elder, drug me to the window and said "Look kid, this is reality...enjoy what you have and keep dreaming those dreams because those dreams are what will save us"
Tomorrowland is not one of those movies.
Well, it is...but not for anyone older than 13 maybe.
Is it good, arguable. I would say it's a little just past...well let's just say it's passable entertainment for those old enough to not know the meaning of cynicism. Far to heavy on visual without enough metaphorical meaning in said visuals and/or expository to make you want to care. That is unless you haven't experienced the brutality that is life experience.
Long story short, this is not a film for those who do not still barter in the currency that is trading cards.
It is nothing but bunch of amazing fluff, that though while tastes sweet during the ride will leave you empty by the end. However for those young enough to enjoy those tasty sweets and ignore how hollow they are, it may just be a fantastic ride.
More below, totally spoiler free.
How this movie starts, literally feels like how it was produced to some degree. The character Frank (George Clooney) and Casey (played by a really well done Britt Robertson) arguing about how the story will be told. By the end of the movie, I felt like this was a literal metaphor for how the production went for the film. With directory Brad Bird being locked in horns with Disney executives as to how the story should be led out. One wanting it to be an expository fest on humanities hope and the other wishing for more spectacle.
And then just like that we are transported to the past, where Frank as a young kid is trying to showcase his newly invented jet pack. It's through the dismissive nature of those around him that he gets the attention of one girl named Athena (Raffey Cassidy) who grants him a token, this token the same seen in the trailers that gifts him the key to Tomorrowland.
Casey gets the same treatment to some degree. Upset with the fact that NASA is dismantling it's space program she breaks into a work site where rigs are taking down a launch pad. She performs some guerrilla science warfare and sabotages the rigs in an effort to keep the dream alive. This act as well, surreptitiously gives her access to the token....the gift to Tomorrowland.
She searches out the source of said token and eventually finds herself square in the path of a now much older, and much cynical Frank.
And there in lies one of the core issues with this movie. In the first 30 minutes we are literally beat over the head with a message of those in power being dismissive of younger possibly better ideals, and the typical trope of the anti-hero as Frank having become disillusioned but now seeing hope with Casey having being bequeathed the token.
We get constantly berated over the head with caste ideals, and who humanity truly is, etc.... as Nix (played by Hugh Laurie who absolutely landed the worst casting role ever) lays out his plan for humanity and Tomorrowland.
The message honestly is a good one to some degree, granted a totally trampled over Hollywood trope, but it would not have been so bad except this movie's pacing is horrendously bad. With a running time of 130 minutes, I think we easily could have had a much better movie had it been trimmed to 90-100. The first 30 minus the intro actually did grab me, but the remainder just felt like a public service announcement run in a constant loop.
I am not sure what the fascination is with forcing 2 plus hours on an audience anymore, I guess we can blame Lord of the Rings for that one, but there is something to be said about a good poignant story told in short order. Case in point, Iron Giant. It had all the typical movie tropes, but was told very well in 88 minutes and you would be hard pressed to find someone who thinks it a bad movie.
And here we are with Tomorrowland, literally beat about the head with a message that I would argue none of us would disagree with. It felt like 2 hours of being the preacher and having the choir sing to me, not the audience. So that for those short moments where as the Preacher (read writers) had a good message, the audience was literally looking at their watches and praying for noon to come around because the game day kick off was destined soon.
Which brings me to the next issue with the movie. Because the film spends so much time on this trope of a message, it loses it's heart towards the characters. Casey more specifically because from her arc from where she starts to where she could potentially go, has just so much potential that is unfortunately spent and is ultimately lost in the visual spectacle of the 2nd and 3rd act. I wanted more from that; I wanted to see her become more and though while she elevates at times, I will say that for the most part, what is built for her in the 1st act as a solid foundation then just becomes flimsy and weak throughout the rest.
The rest of the cast feel paper thin as well, often only there as set pieces. Often relegated to no more than third stringer status in the films narrative as we plod along. So and so is here because so and so must do this, and so forth. So much of the supporting potential is lost as well because of the same issues. Some even feel like they are just phoning it home even to the point of one of the leads.
I mean listen, I understand that Frank (George Clooney) is playing a cantankerous cynical SOB at times, but he seriously felt like for much of the film he didn't care. He chews through scenery worse than I have ever seen him do. This is even worse than his moments in Peacemaker, and that was bad. Like seriously horribly bad that it even stands as an example of scene chewing next to some of Al Pacino worst moments.
I'll close with this. There are genuine moments during the film that could have dared and walked close to that grey line of story telling and scene setup, like Disney of old. However it is because they don't, it brings the glaring faults of the film right to the surface. This is the total fault and kick of this movie unfortunately. When compared to previous Disney movies that did dare to dare, they are more or less identical components save for that daring part.
I don't know, maybe because I'm in my 30's the message of the movie is lost on me and it's changing my scope and or identity assumption of the film. Perhaps I've hardened my outer shell to repel shamelessly hopeful messages hammered into me over the course of 2 hours despite the truly thoughtful message and hope said message can convey.
No....it's because I was yelled at for 2 hours I didn't like it. Blame this one on the editors and the director. Trim 30 minutes off this thing and it would have been a slam dunk.
If you must see it, I'd suggest waiting to watch it at home on a 50+ inch HD rental from Amazon or some such. Not really worth the 2 hours and 10 bucks unless you take some folks younger than 13. For that age, who knows maybe they'll eat it up and walk out with some awe inspiring ideas. Lord knows we could use some inspiration for this younger generation.
Tomorrowland runs 130 minutes and is rated PG