Overbearing social activists, environmentalists and vegans on my Facebook newsfeed can probably instil a message more original — and even inspiring — than what this 129-minute sci-fi romp can. Tomorrowland is a dystopian flick stuck in limbo, masquerading as a wondrous flight but is, in truth, a preachy bore.
The film does lift off for a short amount of time, when young Frank Walker (Thomas Robinson), a science prodigy, catches the eye of a cute but enigmatic Britsy girl Athena (Raffey Cassidy) with his flying jet-pack in an invention fair in the 1960s. She likes his headstrong will to dream and with her unnaturally articulate way of talking for an eight-year-old, convinces him to follow her into Tomorrowland, using the movie's trademark "T" pin.
Tomorrowland is based on Disneyland's retro-futuristic area of the same name, an ode to the future as seen in the past. It's a quaint Jetson-esque kind of place where people still dress like they're from the 60s, yet, this version of old-school space-race is a breath of welcome fresh air compared to other worlds-end movies with their uber-glossy, uber-computerised and unfeeling sanctuaries. The Disney touch makes this city more than a glorious visual — it is a symbol of hope, optimism and limitless imagination.
However, the sluggish plot line is something like young Frank Walker's jet-pack that failed to take off in the beginning. Flash forward to present day and there's Casey (Britt Robertson), a scientifically-gifted teen who's also given a T pin and has had the pleasure, albeit short, of visiting Tomorrowland. Since the fun and intrigue is supposed to come from the mystery around the exploratory progression, let's just say Frank Walker grows up to be a moody and broody George Clooney. Casey tries to enlist his help in getting her back to Tomorrowland and the ever young Athena shows up again too because the world is suddenly falling apart. It's a shame that they've come to take this clichéd world-saving direction (even if the cheesy smiling robocops are funny), when a more sophisticated and thought-provoking path could be taken.
The plot is clunky, but Robertson's terrific acting shows Casey's genuine experience as she horrendously goes through mishaps she didn't sign up for — each escape, tantrum and fit she throws more hilarious than the one before. She makes a good pair with Cassidy, who in contrast, has a perfectly-delivered precociousness that's got everything under control. The stunning, razor-sharp effects too, are like a throwback to rides like Star Tours, even if the chairs aren't jerking around. The convincingly disorientating visuals when Frank and Casey take off will make you feel like you're on their spaceship too and the orgasmic sense of relief explodes when the prismatic shaking stops and they've finally reached their destination.
Besides George Clooney's superstar magnetism, Tomorrowland is still well worth watching for the sense of wonder and marvel that it starts out with — the very magical kind a child goes through, wide-eyed and exhilarated, when discovering a magnificent, otherworldly place the first time. Even if it lasts only 10 minutes.
