Movie synopsis from Google+:
Lt. Col. Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop – forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again – and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski. And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
There is nothing truly original about Edge of Tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a fun ride. The performances from the leads, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, are great. The supporting cast is great. The CGI and the battle scenes are great. Unfortunately, the ending isn’t so great.
The movie really does feel like they took the concept of Groundhog Day and built a sci-fi thriller around it. It works to great effect that we get invested in the characters. When we first meet Cage, he’s a patronizing PR man for the military. His purpose is to inspire people to volunteer for what seems like an insurmountable war against the invading alien race. All while staying as far from combat as possible. As the day keeps resetting, whenever Cage dies, we see him grow from an unlikeable coward to a battle tested hero. All in one day…technically. In Emily Blunt we get Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski. When we first meet her, she’s a battle hardened no non-sense soldier. As the movie moves forward, the layers start to peel away as we get to know more about person with the tough exterior. Blunt is as sexy as she is fierce. The chemistry between the two leads really helps carry the movie beyond the action and spectacle.
For the most part, the movie deals with some serious stuff. It is, potentially, the end of the world after all! It was a pleasant surprise to see some humor injected into the time looping story. It never felt forced and it was a welcomed distraction to everything else going on.
While the action is great throughout, the third act is particularly exciting. That’s to be expected when the director of The Bourne Identity is at the helm. Upon learning how to win against an enemy that “can’t lose,” they set off on a suicide mission. The third act will keep you at the edge of your seat and you’ll finally be able to exhale when it’s over.
It could have ended after that last mission and the audience would have been satisfied. The ending feels like it was slapped on to give it a Hollywood style happy ending. I’m sure some people like the ending, I thought it felt forced. Not to mention that the more I think about it, the less sense it makes.
Anyway, don’t let a disappointing ending ruin what is a fun, thrill-ride of a movie. I was surprised to learn that the movie hasn’t done well in the domestic box office. It has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster, and Edge of Tomorrow delivers.
-Ed
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