REVIEW — “Edge of Tomorrow”

“Edge of Tomorrow” is the summer movie we’ve all been waiting for. It isn’t too on the nose with any political statements or forced romances, and manages to be a serious film while being a blast in the process. From almost the start to the very end this is a fun-filled thrill ride with kick-ass action scenes, great special effects, and a surprising amount of situational humor. 

The adaptation of “All You Need Is Kill” stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and while they don’t have an abundance of on-screen romance type of chemistry they work really well together. Her kick-ass and abrasive attitude really contrasts Cruise’s yellow-bellied and cowardly demeanor in an excellent way. Blunt is in GREAT shape, looking better than ever, and if the rumors are true I’m very excited that she’ll finally be playing Selina Kyle (Catwoman) in the upcoming “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Cruise proves, yet again, that no matter how old he gets he can still entertain the crap out of us, and bring believability to his action character. 

A lot of credit for how well things worked goes to director Doug Liman whose experience on action flicks in the past (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”) helped bring clarity to the otherwise chaotic set pieces. If Michael Bay had directed this we would have no idea what was happening on the screen, but Liman knows to keep the camera back, dull down the shaking, and let the viewer enjoy every moment. Another strength was the writing, but that isn’t too hard considering they had excellent source material. They managed to make the “Groundhog Day” premise work without seeming too hokey. It is actually a believable premise with exception to the one ‘oh that’s convenient’ moment at the very end. 

The action scenes were incredible, and the pacing was, for the most part, spot on. There are a few moments that could have been a little leaner to keep the forward momentum chugging at full speed. While the story starts off setting up Cruise’s character, and it isn’t that exciting, it’s necessary to the plot to show you what kind of man he is (so later you can see what he becomes). I really loved how they tied in the comedy with events happening. A lot of them have to do with ways in which Cruise is killed, and because it happens so frequently it intentionally becomes comedic. I only wish at some point towards the end he had mentioned how many times he had been brought back, but instead they just give us clues like him knowing exactly where everything will be, and all outcomes of one particular event. 

“Edge of Tomorrow” is the kind of big budget summer action flick that everyone has been waiting for. There isn’t a lot of blood violence, and not an excessive amount of cursing, and when you mix in there is no nudity it makes this the kind of action fest an entire family can enjoy together. No political overtones, and some bad-ass action scenes turn this into, potentially, the best representation of a summer flick we’ll get all year. Sit Back. Turn your mind off. Enjoy the show. 4.5/5