Apparently, I was too much of a sucker on this one--as I fell for
it hook, line and sinker.
I consider director Brad Bird to be one of
those genius filmmakers whom has yet to make a bad film--so I was pre-disposed
to like this one. Add to Bird's resume, that I was in the mood for a
hopeful futuristic movie, using as a launching board the famous Tomorrowland
section at Disney (Land and World), and with the participation of co-writers
Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Jeff Jensen (Entertainment Weekly) and
George Clooney, how could I not be on the movie's side? The filmmakers
took as their remit that we have fallen too much in love with dystopia and
post-apocalyptic fiction, and where has the wide-eyed, hope-for-the-future,
we-can-fix-this-world drive gone?
Inspired by Walt Disney's vision of a
great big beautiful tomorrow, Tomorrowland tells the somewhat
convoluted story of a group of dreamers that built--in an alternate
dimension--a city of the future, where new technologies and new solutions could
be created outside of the normal capitalist (and governmental) systems.
Young Frank Walker attends the World's Fair, determined to win the
inventor award for his jet pack (which does not work exactly right.) When
the officious Nix (Hugh Laurie) rejects his jet pack design, a dejected Frank
is given a special pin by Athena (Raffey Cassidy) a young girl who appears to
be Nix's daughter. This pin--when Frank rides the "It's a Small
World" ride--transports him into Tomorrowland, where he perfects his jet
pack, and joins Athena in inventing many wondrous things.
And then
something goes wrong, and Frank is thrown out of Tomorrowland.
Many years
later, a fellow young dreamer--Casey Newton (Britt Robertson)--is fighting the
forces of entropy in her own way. Her father works for NASA and he--an
engineer--is tasked with dismantling the launch pads; the space program is
over. Casey chooses to sneak onto the base to sabotage the equipment, and
set back the attempts to take down the launch pad. These actions put her
in hot water with the authorities (and her dad), and then Athena--still
appearing as a young child--gives her a pin like the one she gave Frank.
Whenever Casey touches it, she is shown visions of Tomorrowland (the
special effects and editing here are awesome.)
Consumed with the promise
of Tomorrowland, Casey finds herself pursued by killer robots, and Athena
places Casey in the path of an older, very bitter Frank (Clooney.)
Frank has given up--not with inventing things--but on the future.
But Casey has a mysterious effect on his countdown clock (countdown to
what?) and he takes a chance on her, helping her escape the robots, and making
their way to Tomorrowland. Can he and Casey save the future? And
why was Frank banned from Tomorrowland in the first place?
I have heard
commentary that the structure of this film is a bit off, but man, scene to
scene, this movie shows such imagination, drive, and wit, that I didn't care.
Bird and his co-writers have a very definite take on our fascination with
dystopia, and roundly embrace optimism. Clooney is very good as the
embittered but still open to hope Frank, and Robertson perfectly embodies
Casey's optimism and intelligence. Cassidy is a standout as Athena--I
won't reveal her role in the story, but Athena is a wonderfully funny
and--eventually--touching presence. I guess people were not in the mood
to get lectured about the world, and our dour attitudes, but I found the film
to be bracing, fun, and hopeful.
Sue me; it worked for me.
Grade:
A-
Dewey is a friend of mine who regularly shares his movie reviews - they are printed here with his permission!
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