Edge of Tomorrow

One of the biggest complaints people have when it comes to movies is that they lack originality. I've been guilty of complaining about this. There are too many sequels and remakes and reboots. So, what happens when we finally get an utterly original, wholly entertaining film? No one goes to see it and it bombs at the box office. Thus, sort of proving to Hollywood big wigs that they are right - what everyone in the world wants is a fourth Transformer movie and not anything daring or original or different. We've only got ourselves to blame.

Edge of Tomorrow is that unique blockbuster that isn't a recycled plot you've seen a million times. Sure, you've seen it once or twice. In Groundhog Day, most famously. Or maybe you've read about it in a book like last year's spectacular Life After Life. But, this isn't the same old material regurgitated for the millionth time. Edge of Tomorrow stars the last of the great action superstars, Tom Cruise, as a cowardly bureaucratic Army guy who has never seen combat, or even trained for combat. He's a talker and a manipulator, not a soldier. But, he ends up on the front lines anyway and a "surprise" attack on the aliens lifeforms they are fighting turns horribly wrong. They've been waiting for the attack and Cruise's Cage is dead within five minutes. But, then he wakes up on the front lines again, ready to relive the day over and over and over until he can get it right, and kill the enemy leader. Eventually he teams up with Emily Blunt's super (read: BAD-ASS) soldier, Rita, and together the two relive the day dozens of times, maybe even more, changing little things every time, until they get it right.

I know, I know. This may sound repetitive and boring, but director Doug Liman does an amazing job of really getting the point across - Live, Die, Repeat, with humor and intelligence without making it seem like you are watching the same thing happen over and over. This movie is creatively done on all counts - writing, editing, directing, acting. This movie is clever and smart and absolutely satisfying on every level.

Tom Cruise is maybe the last of the great action stars. He's been one of the most famous people on the planet for decades now, and while I'm not necessarily a fan of him personally, I don't think you can argue with him as an actor. He's the rare kind of actor; the kind who is magnetic and charming enough to be a larger than life superstar, but still has the acting chops to pull off intimate character moments too. The only other person I can think of off the top of my head who has that same duality is probably Will Smith. And, sure, superstars make missteps, too (see: last year's Oblivion, which wasn't terrible, but was disappointing). But this film and role from Cruise is on point. He's electric to watch, and it's also fun to see him play someone who is so cowardly at the beginning. We aren't used to seeing our Tom Cruise making excuses for reasons not to go to war. He's usually kicking ass and taking names. But, really, the true star of this movie is Emily Blunt. This may be the only alien sci-fi epic feminist movie in existence. Blunt is spectacular as the kick ass super soldier. She is tough and tender and just all around bad ass. She is an absolute delight to watch, especially all the "Let's just reboot" scenes which are dark and funny. She should probably be the biggest star in the world right now, and I hope she becomes a huge household name. Action movies are usually no place for women. We are stuck either playing some sexy, leather clad villain, or the damsel in distress. But Blunt is just as tough, if not tougher, than the men in this movie. This is the sort of female character we need more of in films.

All in all, Edge of Tomorrow is a damn entertaining movie. Sure, it could have had a bit more character development, a little more back story on the war (we're pretty much thrown right into the story). But, then I guess, we'd all be complaining that it's too long. It's a shame this movie did so poorly at the box office, but here's hoping it finds a cult life when it comes out on DVD. This is the sort of creative, fun, entertaining action movie we should all be celebrating. We need more summer blockbusters like Edge of Tomorrow.

Grade: B+