The problem with TOMORROWLAND is it has a flawed narrative structure.   It starts with a flashback storytelling style from the two main characters where director Brad Bird should have used the discovery and wonder of the future world of Tomorrowland through the characters instead of them telling us.  The first ninety minds are very sound and full of adventure and a teenage girl main character that doesn’t get billing above George Clooney and Hugh Laurie (who are basically supporting characters compare to her journey).  TOMORROWLAND is inspired by the Disneyland attraction of the same name and the story starts with a trip to the 1964’s World Fair which turns into a eventful trip for the young version of Frank Walker before going forward to the present where the story of our main character (Casey Newton as played by Britt Robertson) begins.   She is constantly sabotaging equipment so a launch pad at Cape Canaveral isn’t demolished, but she ends up in jail where she discovers she is given a pin that shows her the world of Tomorrowland.  It begins her journey to find the place which puts her in danger and in need of assistance from a female kid robot named Athena to get help from Frank Walker (George Clooney) to get to Tomorrowland which is in another dimension under the misguided rule of Governor Nix (Hugh Laurie).

 

The last thirty minutes should have been more developed as it is the result of the journey to get to Tomorrowland only to rush together all of the pieces from the first ninety minutes (even though TOMORROWLAND is still fun).   Brad Bird has created some wonderful movies like THE INCREDIBLES and did a good job directing the fourth MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movie, but I wish more thought was put into the narrative structure and editing of TOMORROWLAND which prevents it being more than just an enjoyable and yet flawed movie.  It ends up getting bogged down by the danger of a dystopian future instead of letting us fully see the world through the optimistic dreamer Casey.  It could have used even more of the optimistic awe of some Steven Spielberg movies and a better flow to the plot without hinting what is to come later on in the movie.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

REMEMBERING THE FUTURE: A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH TOMORROWLAND WITH BRAD BIRD- Brad Bird reflects on his connection to Tomorrowland from visiting it as a kid to making the movie

CASTING TOMORROWLAND- a fetaurette on the cast of TOMORROWLAND

A BIG AND BEAUTIFUL SCORING SESSION- a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of Michael Giacchino as he is visited by director Brad Bird and a Disney music legend

Two production blogs (about five minutes and most of this material is repeated in another featurette)

 

THE ORIGINS OF ULTRA PLUS is an animated short which can be played with the movie or by itself

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW SCIENCE HOUR- HOSTED BY FUTUROLOGIST DAVID NIX which is almost six minutes of outtakes for a pilot that Disney didn’t pick up for a TV show

BLAST FROM THE PAST commercial

23 minutes of deleted scenes with introductions from director Brad bird explaining where the scenes would fit in and why the scenes were cut (mostly pacing reasons is the top reason).

 

FINAL ANALYSIS: TOMORROWLAND is an enjoyable fun movie for the whole family.  Despite some third act flaws, I do wish there was a sequel being made to this one.  The extras aren’t bad, but I wish they were extensive look on making the movie.

 

This review is ©10-15-2015 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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