Rating of
3/4
Keeps You On the Edge - Every Time
Chris Kavan - wrote on 06/08/14
Tom Cruise hasn't had the best luck with the whole sci-fi genre, but like any good actor, he didn't give up. And with Edge of Tomorrow, it turns out that was a good thing. Although the film has been compared to Source Code (and Groundhog Day) with the "repeating day" scenario, it manages to put its own mark on the premise. A lot of that isn't just Cruise, but also Emily Blunt, who proves she could hang with any of the big-names in action (Sigourney Weave, Linda Hamilton) by turning what could have been a one-note character into a compelling reason to care about humanity.
The opening finds the Earth under attack from an alien invasion that started in Germany and soon spread out across Europe. Dubbed "Mimics" the aliens have proven to be nigh unstoppable - always appearing to be one step ahead of any military force, that is until a major victory at Verdun led by military hero Rita Vrataski (Blunt). Cruise's Major William Cage - a pretty face who helps military recruiting - appears to assure mankind that the huge upcoming battled, dubbed Operation Downfall, will settle this war once and for all. All new battle suits have been developed to specifically fight the scourge. Cruise is brought in before General Brigham (a Churchhill-esque leader played by Brendan Gleeson) only to be told he is going in on the front lines with a camera crew to broadcast the sure "victory" he has proclaimed. Not being a trained soldier, Cage does everything he can to get out of this new assignment - but his escape plan doesn't play out and after being knocked out, finds himself in camp, stripped of his rank, the new "private" Cage is shipped off to "J" Squadron - led by a Southern-fried Master Sergeant Farell (Bill Paxton, having a grand time). Having also been dubbed a deserted, he gets little love from his new squadron - and less instruction. He doesn't even know how to turn the safety off his super suit. And it comes as now surprise that during the beach assault, he faces death in mere minutes - only to awaken back in camp.
This is where the fun begins - watching Cruise live the first day over again for the first time is great. It doesn't last nearly as long but his expression of utter disbelief, realization and attempt to convince those around him of what is going to happen (ending with his mouth being duct taped) is just plain grand. He soon targets Vrataski as the best hope to win this battle - even though she doesn't feel the same way about him (in one great sequence she unceremoniously takes his battery pack, leaving him to die). After a few dozen tries (we only get the highlights) he eventually proves himself and saves her (for a time) only to be given a cryptic note to find her when he wakes up again.
After a few more tries - he eventually escapes his squad and tracks her down - and finds out that the hero of Verdun only got the moniker because she, like him, was able to change the outcome by living the same day over and over again. Turns out Cruise got doused by some Alpha Mimic blood - giving him the same power as these invaders. Turns out the whole alien army is a hive mind - and they have a central brain that can bend time and, by resetting time, can essentially play out the same day until it wins. Humanity is doomed - unless Cage can change the outcome.
Seeing the various ways Cruise dies might bring in the fans, but seeing how things play out between Cruise and Blunt is better. I was surprised by how good the chemistry was between the two - Blunt comes off as the hard-nosed, emotionless but underneath that steely exterior beats a heart - and it turns out having to relive the same day over and over again is pretty tough on that heart. It's the reason Cage is afraid to win the day - he can't face winning this war if it means sacrificing Rita. Some may call it a weakness, I call it devotion.
Edge of Tomorrow throws a few twists at you - including a critical weakness in the resetting ability - but it never gets off track. The ending seems a bit too convenient (and the weakest part of the film for me) - but the film kept up that tension - leaving you hanging - for the most part. The design was excellent - sure, the aliens looked a bit like rejects from The Matrix, but the effects were top-of-the-line, the dialogue snapped (especially fun when Cruise knows exactly what's coming) and the soundtrack is pumping. Even though it is strictly in the summer blockbuster mold, it feels a bit smarter than your standard sci-fi action film.
Given the track record (and some negative buzz), I'm guessing this won't do as well as it should. From my viewpoint, though, Edge works on so many levels that the flaws can be forgiven. And as far as Cruise goes? This more than makes up for Oblivion.
