Review: Tomorrowland

Oh how I love Brad Bird's optimistic intentions in Tomorrowland. Here is a film that rails against the onslaught of dystopian teenage fair in order to inspire hope for the future. The goal of the film is to bring back "the future is bright" view that inspired Walt Disney to create the theme park the film's namesake resides in. That is a noble intention for a summer blockbuster inspired by an attraction. I wish I loved Tomorrowland as much as I love these aspirations.

Tomorrowland begins in 1965 as young Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson, who will grow up to be George Clooney) arrives at the New York World’s Fair his jetpack invention. The judge (Hugh Laurie) isn't impressed as the jetpack's only function is for fun and not to make the world a better place. Frank argues that fun leads to inspiration and doesn't that make the world a better place. That’s an excellent defense of creativity, and of the value of art, but the movie will hammer this idea over and over again. Frank sneaks onto their vessel and is transported to Tomorrowland, a world in which the best minds of society have come to build a new, better future.

Jump to the present and Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) finds a magical pin that lets her see Tomorrowland. She then is off to find grown up Frank and get to Tomorrowland. Frank has been kicked out ever since he invented a machine that predicted the end of the world, down to the minute. With no hope of saving the world, why should the minds of Tomorrowland continue to care?

The central issue is Damon Lindelof's script. Every character speaks as though they are giving a TED Talk. The characters stand for too many ideals to ever feel like real, messy, conflicted people. Casey, we are told many times, is extraordinary. Yet the film never gives her anything extraordinary to do. This creates a lack of "we're with them" spirit as the adventure develops.

Bird has made three films I love but here his swift direction is bogged down by clunky pacing of the story and the lack of a compelling lead. The film isn't without moments of fun. Bird brings back laser guns in a big way and several action sequences show his skill for visual kineticism. Frank asks as a child, "What's wrong with just fun?" I wish the film took his question more to heart.

3/5