Tomorrowland

I had expectations when it came to this movie. For starters, it’s directed by Brad Bird – he worked on The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ghost Protocol. So with his attachment to a movie came the stigma that he was going to deliver something good. The case isn’t exactly the same for Tomorrowland.

Casey, a teenage girl stumbles upon a pin that takes her to a new place, a place of wonder and amazement. However, this triggers a manhunt for her, which leads her to Frank Walker, who was also aware of the new place. When he meets her, something happens, leading them to go to Tomorrowland. 

The plot itself is very thin. The concept of the movie is so vast that it’s surprising that this is all what they came up with. There were so many nooks and crannies to be explored that it’s surprisingly that the movie hurriedly wraps the whole thing up just to have a short running time. The scenes only give a glimpse of a world that seems to be well constructed, and then immediately pulls the plug on the last parts. I thought that the earlier scenes were pivotal to the progression of the movie, but I was really surprised on how the last act was handled. It was such a downer that I was left disappointed and wanting more. 

It might have been difficult to make a movie about an entire new world. There were so many possibilities and opportunities missed in this one that it was really lacking. This though, could have benefited with a television setting – like a ten 50-minute episode kind of series. It gives ample character development, great world building, and it won’t seem like it’s skimping out on things. More possibilities could have been explored and relationships strengthened and challenged if there was a longer running time. 

I thought that Britt Robertson and Raffey Cassidy were making an effort in their performances. Hugh Laurie was the worst offender of them all – he looked like he was just phoning it in. George Clooney looked confused as to what he was doing in the movie – he doesn’t really play side characters in his films, and while the script tried to give some depth to his role, it didn’t work. 

The movie could have turned out to be better if there were major tweaks, but it remains a disappointment to Brad Bird’s otherwise stellar filmography. 

Final Word: There were some entertaining qualities but it could have been better.

Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie

Director: Brad Bird

Year: 2015