Tomorrowland - A World Beyond

Once again, my mum and I went to the cinema to see the latest Disney film for a couple of reasons; one because it looked interesting with the various action sequences shown in the trailer and two because my mum likes George Clooney, always has.

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond is the 2015 action adventure film by Brad Bird from Disney Studios with stars including George Clooney (Ocean's Eleven, Up in the Air), Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder), Britt Robertson (The Longest Ride, Under the Dome), Raffey Cassidy (Snow White and the Huntsman, Dark Shadows), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side, Country Strong), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), and Keegan-Michael Key (The Lego Movie, Key and Peele).

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Clooney fans; action/adventure fans

Favourite Characters: Frank

Favourite Part: Nate: Why do you love the stars so much? 
Casey: Because I want to go there.
Nate: What if nothing is there?
Casey: What if everything's there?

Good Points: Great concept; visually spectacular; Casey and Frank's relationship

Bad Points: Took a while to get into the story; parts seemed forgotten

Tomorrowland - A World Beyond introduces young Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson), an inventor who meets both David Nix (Laurie) and Athena (Cassidy) and shows them his homemade jet pack; David is unimpressed and moves on but Athena gives little Frank an embossed pin with a "T" on it and tells him to follow on the Small World ride.  Through the ride, Frank sneaks into a futuristic city known as Tomorrowland, a place where they encourage you to use your imagination to help the world, and is discovered when he uses his jet pack to fly around Tomorrowland and lands in front of David and Athena, both of whom are impressed.  Years later, Casey (Robertson) is sabotaging a NASA launch pad so to ensure that her father won't be out of a job as Athena, who hasn't aged a day, watches her.  When Casey returns to the launch pad a second time, she is arrested but when she is released, she is handed a pin much like the one Athena gave Frank when he was a child and she is shown Tomorrowland every time she touches it.  Determined to find out what it means, Casey eventually meets an older Frank Walker (now Clooney) who reluctantly tells her about Tomorrowland when he sees the same hope in her that he used to have just before their lives are turned upside down by robots sent to kill them.  Feeling Casey can change the future, Frank grudgingly takes Casey to Tomorrowland to help save the world.

I found the concept behind Tomorrowland fantastic because it conveys a great message - let your imagination run wild, don't wait for someone else to invent it - and seems to be a lot of fun.  The way in which Tomorrowland was shot, especially when Casey and Frank arrive in Tomorrowland for the first time, at a low angel, giving the impression of looking up like a child as they gaze in wonder at the world surrounding them aids the message too.  This can allow children (and adults) to identify with the leads as they understand this feeling more acutely and then can allow them to accept the message Tomorrowland is conveying.  Granted, the story isn't as developed as it could be but there is a message there.

As with many live-action Disney films, Tomorrowland is visually spectacular throughout even if it is lacking an in-depth story; the various settings, from the World's Fair to Frank's home and the comic book store to Tomorrowland its self, were interesting for various reasons, all different but fit into this meshed world of the past and the future.  Some brought a sense of awe using tech we would consider retro while others brought a sense of awe using tech we've never even dreamt of and it was interesting to see these two worlds mesh together.  It wasn't just the settings that were visually spectacular; the intense action sequences were a wonder as they grabbed the audience's attention, especially the one inside Frank's house which is seen partly in the trailer as it was unusual as Casey and Frank are trying to escape those from Tomorrowland.  As well the sequence in Frank's house, when Casey visits the science fiction shop which is full of various sci-fi paraphernalia that becomes part of a large action sequence between Casey and the owners which is equally engaging as it is constantly moving, drawing your eyes to different parts of the shop just like in Frank's house which is full of random items which catch your attention.  The action sequences alone were what caught my attention in the trailer and I'd recommend action fans to see it because it is engaging.

If the leads don't have some kind of rapport then a film can feel flat even if they irritate one another, fortunately Casey and Frank are great when they come together as they learn from one another while they bicker with one another which helps given that their relationship is one of the defining ones in Tomorrowland and while they don't carry the major burden as it's Casey's relationship with her family and Frank's with David and Athena that drive the film, their characters develop because of their relationship.  Casey and Frank bring humour to the film as they bicker as they become exasperated with one another, especially grumpy Frank as the curious Casey constantly asks questions - "Must I explain everything to you?  Can't you just be impressed and move on?"  Moments like that can make a film because they are memorable as they define characters and it's something Disney do well even if the film is bad.

George Clooney's Frank Walker was by far the best character in Tomorrowland in my opinion other than Hugh Laurie's David Nix and that's because it was Laurie but I am biased as I like both actors, it was the reason I initially went to see Tomorrowland; it's clear to see that Clooney enjoyed playing Frank as he seemed excited throughout even though he came across as a bright intelligent man who avoids people in typical grumpy Clooney fashion - this is something we have come to expect and enjoy in recent years I think because it's almost challenging the other characters and the audience to crack through his hard exterior.  Once we've gotten through the hard exterior, we are met with a caring individual with an eccentric personality, qualities that make him a great mentor character to Casey's hero even if he is reluctant.  Clooney was the main draw for me as well as my mum because I have enjoyed most of his films in the past, especially when he's being a bit weird as he seems to enjoy his work and tries to make a great film which I feel he has this time; if you love Clooney, see Tomorrowland - A World Beyond.

Every so often, a film takes a while to fully come to life on the silver screen and Tomorrowland, unfortunately, seems to drag its feet before we can get truly engrossed into this visual spectacular.  Some groundwork had to be laid down beforehand then the action was able to commence; due to some background having to be explained, it made Tomorrowland complicated and overwhelming at first until we got further into the film where everything began to make sense.  Tomorrowland wouldn't make sense at all without Frank's past in the end so while it is good that they make a big deal about it, especially how he meets Athena and enters Tomorrowland, it drags the film out even more.  Even Casey's rebellious actions at the beginning seems odd until we learn more about her, it's great to see these little moments that seem random but odd to the big picture in the end.

This may be me being picky but certain parts of the story seemed to be skipped or forgotten about, which was a downside for me, so that after they've set the scene, they could dive straight into the action.  Part of me felt like they just skipped over Casey's family situation - she had a mum when she was little but it's just her, her dad, and her brother when the story comes to the present - and Frank's family are never mentioned even before Frank disappears to Tomorrowland and then reappears years later which I think are key parts to their backstories.  Another part that was neglected was seeing in Tomorrowland in its prime a bit more which could have brought more insight to the world that these characters live in and how Tomorrowland became desolate other than through a conversation.

Nate: Why do you love the stars so much?
Casey: Because I want to go there.
Nate: What if nothing is there?
Casey: What if everything's there?

From the moment Casey is introduced, or maybe even before then, it is clear that Tomorrowland  is about dreamers and fulfilling dreams but this scene between Casey and her parents as a child sums it up well.  Tomorrowland is supposed to spark imagination, just as the place is, and looking around at the world surrounding us could do just that, what if there is everything out there, shouldn't we want to explore and let our imagination run will?  This scene also makes for a very sweet moment between Casey and her father and shows how close they are and establishes where the passion and fire that drives Casey comes from.  Small moments like this are great in film full of CGI and special effects as it allows you to connect with the characters.

While necessary to explain some history of Tomorrowland and showing Casey's rebellious actions, the beginning dragged until the action kicked in and parts then seemed to be skipped or forgotten so to progress the story quicker in the end which is something I dislike about Tomorrowland even though I believe the concept is wonderful as it has a great message.  Tomorrowland is visually spectacular with interesting settings and captivating action sequences as we follow Casey and Frank bickering and working together to make the world better; on those two factors alone I would recommend Tomorrowland - A World Beyond as it became action packed and the two leads were great together, bringing some good chemistry even if it drags for a bit at first.  It would be a great family film, full of fun, for those rainy days or at night.

Related Films