Tomorrowland

#StokerScore 4/10

Brad Bird. The man behind my favourite animated movie, "The Incredibles", and the director of the best movie in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. A man with a vision. A man who when he says he has a great idea for a movie, people listen. A man who evidently kept all previews and trailers under wraps until just prior to release and even then to a level best termed mysterious. 

I saw Tomorrowland a couple of days ago following a chance viewing of the trailer in front of Mad Max: Fury Road. I was aware of the movie and the magazines and articles I'd read talking about how mysterious the project was and how little was known about it and now, even having seen it, I have to admit I'm not sure where to start with this review. I suppose with that being the case I should just describe the general story without giving too much away but then that would clash with Mr Bird's original intention. He seemed to want everyone to arrive at the cinema in a state of curiosity, even though the trailer I saw explained it all very generally, with the possible exception of Hugh Laurie's role.

So look, it's a Disney movie. It's got lots of great visuals. It's got a solid cast. But for me it doesn't know what it wants to be. Most kids' movies work on an adult level to keep the guardians amused whilst at the same time entertaining the little ones. That was something I loved about "The Incredibles". This movie is way too complicated to maintain the interest of the audience members at which it is aimed (what is that, by the way?) and although I agree that it has a sense of charm and Clooney's Clooneyisms, it is overshadowed by its MESSAGE.

I don't think any movie deserves comparing to "Battlefield: Earth" but this comes perilously close, purely for gag reflex which keeps being induced everytime the director thinks the audience is unclear on the MESSAGE. I understand that audiences are being accused of being dumbed down but this doesn't hint at a problem and a solution, it picks you up and slaps you repeatedly with a week-old haddock.

As I said, visually stunning, but ultimately confusing and even a tad boring?