Tomorrowland
Starring Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy, Hugh Laurie
Rated PG for mild science fiction violence and coarse language
BASED on the Disney amusement park ride, Tomorrowland is an invigorating and inspiring (if clunky) experience.
Tomorrowland follows Casey (Britt Robertson), a smart teenager who discovers a wondrous alternate dimension created by Earth’s brightest minds.
Tomorrowland is an incredibly entertaining film, but with notable problems in its plot and pacing.
Much of the film is spent with the heroes enroute to Tomorrowland, so the long build-up may tire some viewers.
The impending apocalypse is very vague and the villains are poorly explained (though Hugh Laurie, as the fatalistic Governor Nix, does get a great monologue).
The first act also has some heavy-handed dialogue about the themes of optimism and innovation.
But once the talky set-up is finished and everyone goes along for the ride, Tomorrowland quickly becomes exhilarating.
The cast has fantastic chemistry, and George Clooney is compelling as a bitter inventor whose hope is steadily restored. The action scenes are powerful and energetic, and the visual design is dazzling, replete with sleek ’50s-style futurism.
But the best part of the film is Raffey Cassidy as the android Athena. Cassidy is wise, mature and composed beyond her years, and a dynamo in the fight scenes. This young actress has a great career ahead of her.
Tomorrowland lacks certain details and needed tighter editing, but is still a beautiful and optimistic thrill-ride.
– SETH HYNES
