EDGE OF TOMORROW

Reviewed by Paul Gibbs


EDGE OF TOMORROW
GRADE: A
Starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
Directed by Doug Liman

Yes, the new Tom Cruise sci-fi vehicle bears an unmistakable resemblance to a cross between Groundhog Day and Starship Troopers. What's surprising is how good a film that turns out to be, and what may be surprising to some is how big a part of that is a first-rate star turn by Cruise.

Cruise stars as Major William Cage, a military Media Relations in a not-too distant future where grotesque aliens called Mimics (think the xenomorphs from Aliens mixed with the Formics of Ender's Game) have invaded Earth and the best hope to defeat them is soldiers in exoskeletal battle suits. Assigned to provide coverage during an invasion, Cage balks, attempting to blackmail his way out of battle. This goes over about as well as you would expect, and Cage is demoted to a frontline troop as cannonfodder in the invasion. But when Cage dies, he ends up waking up at the beginning of the day, repeating it over and over in an endless loop. Eventually Cage seeks out the help of a legendary soldier known as the Angel of Verdun (Emily Blunt) and working to defeat the Mimics and end the loop.

Based on a Japanese novel entitled All You Need Is Kill (which sounds like stereo instructions translated from Japanese), Edge of Tomorrow (which sounds like a daytime soap opera) is clever, funny, and thrilling, providing a perfect example of what a summer movie should be. Director Doug Liman is at the top of his game, crafting spectacular battle sequences, uproarious dark comedy and sensitive character moments with equal aplomb, and he's aided immeasurably by his leading man. Try to forget all of the couch-jumping Scientology baggage and just enjoy a great movie star carrying a blockbuster like few others can, and stepping out of his stock character to play a weaselly coward who is forced to learn to become a soldier. Cruise expertly navigates the arc from the comic scenes in the first act to the physical heroics of the actions scenes to his growing attachment to Blunt's character. This is exactly why he's been one of Hollywood's top stars for almost 30 years.  The supporting cast also fairs well, with Blunt easily holding her own in her scenes with Cruise (though it's a little disappointing to see Cruise once again playing opposite an actress young enough to be his wife). Bill Paxton amusingly chews the scenery as the tough Seargant commanding Cage's unit.

In a manner someone reminiscent of James Cameron's Avatar, Edge of Tomorrow is a perhaps overly familiar sci-fi epic that is executed well enough to make us forgive its more derivative elements. The fast pace makes for a perfect summer thrill ride. The film is rated PG-13 for some profanity and a lot of violence (so much so that an argument could easily be made for an R rating for the sheer number of violent deaths, though the movie is largely bloodless.).