Tomorrowland : The World Beyond

TOMORROWLAND : THE WORLD BEYOND

Director : Brad Bird
Year : 2015
Genre : Science Fiction
Rating : ***1/2

 
After making a shed-load of money with the action spectacular 'Mission Impossibe : Ghost Protocol', 'The Iron Giant' and 'The Incredibles' director Brad Bird returns to his beloved sci-fi roots with 'Tomorrowland', a gorgeous looking but narratively unstable tale based on the popular Walt Disney World attraction of the same name. Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie and Evan Taylor-Wood, the film tells the story of the ambitious and headstrong Casey (Taylor-Wood) who, after discovering a mysterious metallic pin in her belongings, is transported to a futuristic utopia filled with technological wonders and architectural behemoths. However, while this apparent paradise may seem peaceful and tranquil, Casey soon realises that her life may be in mortal danger and her only hope lies in the grouchy Frank (Clooney), an eccentric recluse who has visited the alternative universe in his past. 

Filled with beautiful imagery and astounding imagination, 'Tomorrowland' perfectly captures the futuristic wonder of the much loved amusement park that was dreamed up by Walt Disney himself over 60 years ago. Gravity-defying monorails, huge glass skyscrapers that tower into the clouds and even physic-bending swimming pools are all on offer in this visual marvel and director Bird indulges in some of the most wondrous sets ever seen in the genre. The cast are also terrific; with Wood lending the film a courageous and identifiable focal point and Clooney being his usual dynamic and incredibly watchable self.

But while the visuals and performances match the awe-inspiring tone of the source, the script written by Bird and 'Star Trek Into Darkness' and 'Prometheus's Damon Lindelof as well as the overall story sadly doesn't. In fact, there were points throughout the second and thirds acts of 'Tomorrowland' in which I and other members of the audience did become quite restless. Thankfully, as the final half and hour approaches, the tempo does quickly pick up again and the movie ends on an upbeat and satisfying note - but maybe not enough to fully entertain younger viewers.

Judging by the reviews and the box office figures, it does appear that 'Tomorrowland' has somewhat missed its target audience and, while the effects and performances are great, the film is in my opinion too narratively advanced for little children. At times, the movie does touch delve into deeper and stronger subject matters than one would expect from a picture of this kind and while I appreciate the level of storytelling that Bird and Lindelof are trying to do, I can definitely see why 'Tomorrowland' has failed to find its core demographic. However, speaking as someone who admires both the work of Brad Bird as well as the ideologies behind the film, 'Tomorrowland' is a noble but flawed attempt to bring to the big screen the imagination, the foresight and the profound wonder of Walt Disneys vision of the future. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this may be the first Disney film in the longest time that the great man himself may have enjoyed.