Every streaming service nowadays seems to be gravitating towards big budget entertainment in the quest for dominance in the streaming wars. Whilst these types of films are usually reserved for the big screen, the recent pandemic changed everything, prompting studios to offload their films to streaming in the hopes of recouping their losses. The latest blockbuster offering comes from Amazon in the form of the Chris Pratt-led The Tomorrow War; a sci-fi action film in the vein of Edge of Tomorrow which has clearly been made with the goal of being seen on the biggest screen possible. The loss of that big screen sheen is felt considerably when viewed on a home TV but there is still a considerable amount of big, dumb fun to be had here, even if The Tomorrow War isn’t the most original or memorable addition to the genre.
The world is forever changed when a strange portal opens, revealing soldiers from 30 years in the future who are waging a desperate war for survival against an alien species dubbed the Whitespikes. In a global scramble, the governments of the world unite to initiate a worldwide draft, conscripting ordinary civilians along with military who are able to withstand the time travel process, to join the fray and save the planet from eventual extinction. When ordinary science teacher Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) is drafted, leaving behind wife Emmy (Betty Gilpin) and young daughter Muri (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), he discovers he has a more personal role to play in the fight for humanity than anyone could have known. Joined by the now adult Muri (Yvonne Strahovski) Dan races against the clock to uncover a weapon to defeat the Whitespikes before they can overtake the last secure military base on the planet and destroy the device which allows for the past to supply soldiers to the battle.
Sounds big and dumb right? That’s because it is. Are the complex time travel plot-holes glossed over and forgotten in favour of furthering the plot? You bet. Come in and start nitpicking the litany of nonsense and you’ll be disappointed. The name of the game here is spectacle and The Tomorrow War absolutely delivers in that sense, constantly topping each act with a healthy dose of explosions and wacky plotting as if Michael Bay had directed Independence Day, only with less American flags and product placement.
The quieter moments don’t work quite as well as they should, with the exception of the central relationship between Pratt and his daughter, which writer Zach Dean takes full advantage of, using the two versions of Muri as a way for Dan to do some self-reflection on how he treats his family in the present timeline. It’s clunky and not all that subtle storytelling but the tearjerker moments between Muri and Dan hit where they need to, offering a glimpse at a more personal side to Pratt’s otherwise infallible action hero.
Make no mistake – Pratt is the sole reason The Tomorrow War holds together as well as it does. His extremely likeable presence and general everyman demeanour helps to anchor even the most outlandish action sequences. Dan Forester is no Peter Quill from Guardians of the Galaxy but Pratt retains that charm and a smidge of the smart-assery that made that character so endearing. Forester isn’t anything outside the usual mold of characters Pratt has played but there is a reason that he is as bankable a star as he is and this type of relatable action hero is the foundation of that brand.
Outside of Pratt are a handful of solid enough performances, the most notable including an absolutely gigantic J.K. Simmons (who looks as if he’s ingested copious amounts of super-serum in order to finally catch that menace Spider-Man) and the criminally slept on powerhouse Sam Richardson. Richardson has consistently delivered stand-out supporting performances in comedies like VEEP and Good Boys and it is great to finally see him showcasing those skills in a big-budget film like this, even if his usual zaniness is somewhat muted. Apart from the odd joke from Pratt here and there Richardson is tasked with shouldering almost all of the films comedy and delivers more often than not, playing a scientist so supremely out of his depth in the field of war that he yells “shit” every time he fires a bullet.
The Tomorrow War is exactly the type of goofy, overblown fun that would be perfect viewing for the big screen, with action and sound that demands the most high-end systems to immerse yourself in the story. The loss of that environment does diminish the experience significantly but this is a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t aiming to push boundaries in the story or character departments, never pretending to be anything other than big, flashy popcorn munching entertainment. Pratt still proves himself more than capable of carrying these big tentpole films with his charm and the supporting cast around him all pull their weight enough to ensure boredom never sets in, with a new joke or flashy set-piece never far out of reach. The next Edge of Tomorrow? No. A silly, fun time sitting on the couch stuffing your face with snacks? You could do a lot worse.
The Tomorrow War stars Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge, Ryan Kiera Armstrong & J.K. Simmons – Streaming on Amazon Prime now.