Fast-paced, engaging and exciting high-concept sci-fi actioner which is a superior summer blockbuster

Rating: Null/10 (5 October 2014)

Earth has been invaded and most of Europe has been taken over by a seemingly undefeatable alien foe. A small victory encourages an all- out assault on all front lines; into the middle of this is PR officer Major Cage – out of favor with a superior and finds himself dropped into boot camp as a deserter and forced onto the front line. Killed within minutes along with many others, Cage somehow finds himself walking up at the same point of the day before, stuck in a time loop which resets with each time he is killed. With every day giving him more knowledge and skill, Cage may be able to take the course of the battle.
A very high concept idea doesn't always mean that things will work and it is worth acknowledging the good job that Edge of Tomorrow does in selling us the time-loop idea and throwing us into a world and scenario that is engaging. The idea seems to have its roots in video gaming since it is often the case when playing a game that one progresses through the level by gradually learning from mistakes and getting better at the skills you need. So it is with Cage and the film builds this idea very well at first. With very little background, we join a terrified Cage as he heads to certain death. This aspect is very well done as the battle sequence is brutal but also darkly comic. This rather dark streak continues as Cage makes tiny steps each time, with the repetition being exciting but also a little amusing.
From here a plot starts to form, doing so from a point where the viewer is already engaged by the idea, the action and the effects. It does ultimately end up being less smart, edgy and brave than it seems, but by that point the film has done a lot to get us on board so we stay with it. The action sequences are really well done, and the effects are very impressive – even more so because generally I was caught up in the events rather than looking for the CGI work. Performances are surprisingly good; I'm not a big fan of Tom Cruise but he is very good here. For the majority of the film he is not a hero or action-hero but rather an arrogant salesman (PR) and he lets us see his terror and confusion for the first half of the film – a key factor in drawing the viewer in. He does end up becoming a more traditional Cruise character, but he justifies getting there. Blunt is also good alongside him and is not just an attractive female sidekick. Support from Gleeson, Paxton, and those in J squad also helps build a convincing world and one that fits well the sci-fi genre without feeling like it is aping it.
I watched this expecting it to be just a professional and expensive action movie and, while it of course is this, it is also a lot better than I expected. The use of humor, violence and action all help to make the concept work, drawing the viewer in really well so that when it does settle down to be more of what you expect, it still works because it already has you. A superior summer blockbuster.