Solid Science-Fiction

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2017)

For some reason, this film really didn't "catch on" in its advertising stages. First billed as "Edge of Tomorrow" and touted as an action shoot-em-up (I remember seeing the trailer in theaters), it then morphed into "Live, Die, Repeat" and was re-branded as a time-travel escapade. Though the film deserved a more coherent approach to garner some box office success, its dual- personality is shown within the movie as well.
For a basic plot summary, "Edge of Tomorrow" sees Cage (Tom Cruise), a military man, sent to the front lines of combat against an alien threat against the planet. Almost immediately after parachuting into enemy territory, the entire mission goes awry and everyone dies. And then Cage wakes up at the beginning of that same day. With only a vague reference to female fighting hero Rita (Emily Blunt) to guide him, Cage must simultaneously find out what the heck is happening to him while also trying to win the battle for his country.
"Edge of Tomorrow" is a solid movie. Cruise is great (as usual), the plot is mind-bending, and the action is top-notch. I was entertained throughout and never felt bored or confused.
That isn't to say that this is an all-time classic. There is no context given for the alien invasion (which is very disappointing from a plot standpoint), and the ending (IMHO) leaves a bit to be desired. Also, I was very disappointed in Blunt's performance as the female lead. Her character is an integral part of the story, and it comes across as very weak and ultimately useless. I think that she was cast wrong for this role, as a more likable/approachable presence would have played much better to interact with Cruise's character. I know she is supposed to be "tough", but that toughness doesn't end up meaning much if the character falls flat.
Overall, "Edge of Tomorrow" is a solid science fiction effort. It's very entertaining, but fails to truly be great because of a few major flaws. Like the advertising for the film, director Doug Liman doesn't quite seem to know exactly what he wants the picture to be. Very comparable to another Cruise sci-fi flick "Oblivion".