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Rating: 3 out of 5
During the pandemic, the one film I wanted to watch was The Tomorrow War. I remember ads coming out for it and was interested in seeing it. The pandemic had other plans, and I wasn’t going to sign up for another streaming service to watch it. As time went on, I forgot about this film. It never crossed my mind, and I completely forgot about it. Well, after years of waiting, the film dropped on Hulu. I snapped my fingers and gave that “I remember hearing about that film” look. I looked at the trailer to remind myself why I was interested in this film. The concept was interesting, and it gave me something to do. Who wouldn’t want to watch a film about time travel, aliens, and the fate of humanity on the brink of extinction? That seems like a recipe for a great film in my book. Directed by Chris McKay, written by Zach Dean, and starring Chris Pratt, The Tomorrow War is one of those films that, if you love action and aliens, is AWESOME. The film’s concept is fascinating, but the execution of the film was a little off.
This film starts off in December 2022. Biology teacher and former Green Beret Dan Forester (Pratt) has been interviewing for a United States Army Research Laboratory job. Even though he has the qualifications, the interviewer tells him they are going in a different direction. We all know that feeling. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, a player makes a breakaway and is about to score when shit hits the fan. A portal opens, and soldiers rush the field. One soldier announces that in the year 2051, humanity is on the brink of extinction due to alien invaders called the Whitespikes. In response, the world’s military decided to team up and save their future by sending forces through the time portal. Things become dire as time goes on in the present as less than 20% manage to survive. The world decides to implement a global draft.
Dan receives his draft announcement and is fitted with a bracelet as he learns that he will die in a few years. The bracelet tracks his movements, and Dan is informed that his tour will be seven days long. Dan’s wife, Emmy (Gilpin), who works as a therapist for returning draftees, is heartbroken and asks him to remove the bracelet. She suggests he get help from his estranged father, James Forester (Simmons). James is a war nut and survivalist with every weapon and device known to man. He might even have a nuclear weapon. Dan is pissed at his father for abandoning him during his childhood, and during their argument, he decides to keep it on and leave. Dan says goodbye to his wife and young daughter, Muri (Armstrong), and reports for his mission.
Dan is introduced to several members of his crew, which includes Charlie (Richardson), a scientist who has a PhD in Earth and atmospheric sciences; Dorian (Hodge), a cancer-stricken draftee who has done three tours, is known for killing the first ever Whitespikes and wants to die on his terms; and lastly Lt. Hart (Mathews), a future soldier who warned the world. Dan sees that no one gets training, and they are thrown into the fire. Dan also learns that the Jumplink allows for time travel but only allows travel between 2 points in time that keep moving forward as per normal, and the reason for seven-day tours is that the Whitespikes attack for 6 days and rest for a day. Dan is sent forward in time to Miami Beach, where he comes face to face with the Whitespikes while also a blast from the past.
The concept of this film was interesting and exciting. At first, I got the whole Edge of Tomorrow vibe from it. That film was all about an alien invasion and time travel. More of a time loop, but it still deals with time. Even though that film was excellent, this one holds its own. Rather than going back and forth in time, I liked how this film works around the seven-day concept. God created the world in six, and on the seventh, he rested. Same concept; the Whitespikes ravage and hunt for six days and rest on the seventh. Interestingly, the world does a major draft because things become dire. Still, the sense of hopelessness is all around as people see the future numbers keep decreasing until like 500 people are left. I like the scene when Dan is in class, and one of his students asks what the point is. No matter what they do, all will be lost in the end.
The film does bring in the standard elements of finding out what happened to Dan’s family. We learn, and spoiler alert, that Colonel Forester is Dan’s daughter. She grew up and did the damn thing with having more degrees than the sun and was the leader of the group. We also see that the relationship between Dan and Muri is strained as Dan does the same thing to her as his dad did to him. It feels like this was thrown in to add more emotional depth between the two characters. Rather than having Dan die of disease or cancer, we hear how he becomes distraught and loses touch until his death. How they learned about the attack from the aliens was a nice touch. When Dan returns to his class, the one kid who always wanted to talk about volcanos was a good way to tie the film together.
The action scenes are definitely the highlight of this film. Good alien films have great fighting scenes. When the crew gets to Miami Beach and survives the initial drop, the scene where we first see the Whitespikes will send terror down your spine. Those things are nasty, lethal, and terrifying. The lab scene and the escape were INSANE. The film went from 0 to 100 really quick, and I was all about it. It was shot so well that it was intense and kept you on the edge of your seat. The reason is that Dan and his crew were surrounded while trying to escape, but you saw the planes coming to bomb the city. I loved it and thought it was one of the best alien action scenes I’ve seen in a while. From that point, the film goes full sicko mode with relentless attacks. When they try to capture the female, and we see the males rush in, you think no one will make it. The attack on the oil rig, or whatever it is called, was great. All great intensity and keep you on the age of your seat.
The cast did a great job. Chris Pratt was fun to watch as he had jokes, but he turned serious and into a beast when the intensity got real. Yvonne Strahovski as Colonel Muri Forester was equally great in her screen time. She played that badass leader who wouldn’t lose hope but also had a grudge against Dan for what he had done in the future. I must admit that J. K. Simmons was the best part. He was that crazy dude who knew shit would go down and have all the weapons. He has such a deadpan tone when he delivers his lines that you are intimidated.
The Tomorrow War is one of those films that if you like kick-ass alien movies, then this one is for you. The direction, story, and action are great. The action, especially, will keep you on the edge of your seat. The cast is great in their respective roles, with Pratt, Strahovski, and Simmons taking the lead. If you need a great alien film, this is definitely one to watch.
