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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

Tomorrowland
Starring: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, and Tim McGraw
Synopsis: Summer movies used to be a place of wonder. In some ways they still are, but they’re also a place of blockbusters and franchises. Blockbusters and franchises can be full of wonder, but they also have to service the fabric of a larger world. I enjoyed “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and its emblematic of what summer is all about, but it’s the 11th film in an ongoing set of mythology that not only has to honor what has come before but also has to set up the next act. That’s a heavy burden on a film that’s meant to be an entertainment piece. “Tomorrowland,” by contrast, doesn’t require any homework viewing. It’s a new story about a new world that’s meant to stand on its own. Some might quibble about the way it goes about that, but “Tomorrowland” is at least unique in a sea of sameness. “Tomorrowland” is a rich and unique film world built out of a simple concept. As Disney has in the past, they’ve sought to build a major film around a feature of their park. This time, instead of a single ride, ala “Pirates of the Caribbean,” the film is built around the world of Tomorrowland, a famous place in the park. And like the best of these kind of films, “Tomorrowland” builds a fascinating world and story that has little to do with the theme park. To embark on this journey, Disney turned to screenwriters Damon Lindelof (“LOST,” “Prometheus”) and co-writer/director Brad Bird (“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” “The Incredibles”) to build this world. Based on a story they created with “Entertainment Weekly” writer Jeff Jensen, Bird and Lindelof deliver a narrative that pays homage to classic Disney, ties into the theme park but creates a fascinating story all its own. Little was made known of the plot of the film prior to its release — largely owing to how complex it is to explain the story. Suffice to say there were moment of pure wonder in this film that were as delightful as anything I’ve seen in recent years. There are some delightful cameos — including a sequence featuring Keegan-Michael Key and Kathryn Hahn — and some wonderful strokes of imagination. Sadly, the film as a whole doesn’t stay at that level. It’s good, but a somewhat clumsy feeling final act detracts from my love of what came before. Still, this is an original and beautifully conceived summer film. Clooney and Robertson are great in the lead roles, and play off each other well. Laurie delivers a nice performance in a somewhat stern role, too. But the real scene-stealer is Cassidy, whose Athena drives a lot of the plot and some of the most endearing moments of the film. I wanted to love “Tomorrowland,” and I think it’s the kind of original big swing we need more of, particularly during our summer season. This movie is good but falls short of greatness. Still, it’s one of the more entertaining options available in an increasingly crowded cinematic landscape.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence and peril, thematic elements, and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

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