The Edge of Tomorrow – Review by Frances Winston

Directed by: Doug Liman

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton

In cinemas May 30th

I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of Thomas Mathopower Cruise IV. While he plays the role of movie star well I feel that his screen roles have left a lot to be desired in recent years. Clearly I am in the minority as his movies make millions of dollars without exception and after this I have found myself warming to him. Of course this could be influenced by the clever script which was in part penned by playwright Jez Butterworth and also by a revelatory performance from Emily Blunt who proves she can play more than just simpering high class totty.

The story is a Groundhog Day style affair set in the near future on an earth that is under attack from an alien race. Cruise plays William Cage, a Major in the US Army who is inexperienced in combat. When he finds himself deployed to the battlefield he is killed after a few minutes but suddenly and inexplicably finds himself waking up at the point in which his day started. Reliving the battle over and over again he manages to survive longer each time in order to connect with Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt) who he believes can help him. Learning that he must keep reliving the day until he can track down and kill the alien’s controlling force the pair work together with Cage constantly resetting the day until they get it right.

This is surprisingly good given the amount of repetition a premise like this requires. They do prolong the idea a bit but it doesn’t become unbearable since Cage progresses further each day. Cruise makes a worthy action hero as Cage and manages to convey the tedium of reliving each day well. However, Blunt is the revelation here playing possibly the most kick ass female character since Lara Croft Tomb Raider.

Best known for a series of rather twee roles she really proves herself and holds her own against superstar Cruise. The script is quite intelligent given the underlying idea and rarely descends into the cheesefest that these kinds of movies often do. However there are parts of the story that are rather overcomplicated. Meanwhile the CGI is effective and never looks out of place. You find yourself rooting for the heroes as should be the case with all good action movies and once it gets going the pace doesn’t let up until the very end.

In a season dominated by blockbusters this movie deservedly earns its place and takes the audience on a rip roaring ride to the finish line. It is slightly too long but that is a minor complaint and is worth checking out just to sit slack jawed as Emily Blunt sheds her girlie image once and for all.