Edge of Tomorrow Review

2014 has served up yet another example of just how awesome it is, and how awesome it is most likely going to be. Edge of Tomorrow not only exceeded my own expectations, it transcended them. It delivered a blockbuster so exciting, funny, and smart, that I was reminded of the first time I saw Inception, and how surprised and exhilarated I was by a summer movie that actually blew me away.

So, for those who are unfamiliar with Tom Cruise's latest flick, it's about an army officer who is given the power to reset time back to the beginning of the day before the humans invade a beach under alien control. It's premise isn't the most original thing in the world, and comparisons to Groundhog Day will undoubtedly be popular. However, while the replaying one day over and over again is the same, that's just about the only thing that is. Edge of Tomorrow adds enough quirks to its own story to feel fresh, despite an oft-used premise.

Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt star in the lead roles, Cruise as the man stuck in a cycle of the same day over and over again, and Blunt as a war heroine that once experienced the same thing as Cruise's character. Thus, they are pretty much stuck together as the only ones who understand what's going on. The chemistry between the two was palpable.

Just like in other films with the premise of replaying the same day, the characters who aren't stuck in the loop either think Cruise is crazy, or, in the case of Blunt, have the situation explained to them every single time the day is replayed. That dynamic of having to explain errors or leaps in time reminded me a lot of X-Men: Days of Future Past when Logan had to explain his time travel situation to everyone in the 1970's. It provides plenty of moments of ironic humor, and even moments of frustration. Not frustration in a bad way, though. We feel the same kind of hopeless tedium that Cruise's character must feel. It connects us with his character. Makes him vulnerable. This is a new kind of role for Tom Cruise, and he fits it perfectly.

One thing I loved about this movie was the action. My my, was it exhilarating. Doug Liman, director of The Bourne Identity, is not satisfied with simply showing us the action sequences. He makes us a part of them, immersing us in all the chaotic, jarringly visceral battles. I knew this was an action movie going in. But I was expecting a fairly generic action movie with generic action sequences. The fact that this is so far from what Edge of Tomorrow truly is really blindsided me.

This is a smart movie. Not just in its plot elements that were surprisingly intelligent, but also in the way it treated its audience. It doesn't beat you over the head with exposition, or insult your intelligence by explaining everything that was happening. It respected its audience's intelligence by making you think, while also remaining entirely enjoyable as an action-packed joyride.

Edge of Tomorrow is the first true summer blockbuster of the year. All movies before it could have been released in other parts of the year. However, this is a movie with a real summer spirit. It's being released at the perfect time to finally kick off the summer in true summer fashion. I don't think it's the best movie of the year so far - that is still a title held by Days of Future Past in my mind - but it just might be the most unashamedly fun and entertaining, all this while keeping its brain, too.

Conclusion

Boasting strong performances, hugely exciting action sequences, and a surprisingly witty script, Edge of Tomorrow is an immensely entertaining example of a summer blockbuster that's not afraid to make you think. I wholeheartedly recommend you go see this movie. 

Rating: 4/4