Bill Murray never had to go through this

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2014)

Okay, let's get the 'Groundhog Day' comparisons out the way straight away. Ever since Groundhog Day was released, any other film that has based its premise around a single day repeating itself has been compared to it (i.e. Repeaters, Source Code, that episode from the X-files and so on).
This time we have aliens invading the Earth in the near future, but, just like that load of extraterrestrial nasties in Oblivion and War of the Worlds, they didn't figure on us humble earthlings having Tom Cruise on our side. And he's on cracking alien-slaughtering form. He may start out like a bit of a wimp – merely a disgraced army media spokesperson, forced to fight the xenomorphs on the frontlines. However, a freak accident means he acquires the power to restart the day every time he dies, meaning he gets one hell of a 'heads-up' on our invading monsters.
Naturally, Tom doesn't have to go it alone and soon recruits the highest-decorated soldier to help him out. And, just as naturally, the highest-decorated soldier just so happens to be a super-fit baddass chick, played by Emily Blunt. So, the two of them have to replay the day until they finally come up with a way of saving the Earth (and most likely getting together for good measure).
And it's a pretty good ride. I guess the main audience for it will be sci-fi films (dare I say men?). It's actually more intelligent that it sounds and there are a number of different aspects to the story that make it more than just an 'action version of Groundhog Day.' Also, it does play out a bit like a sci-fi version of a war film (think Saving Private Ryan, but with monsters), so you may have to appreciate war films, too.
Tom and Emily undoubtedly carry the film. It's their chemistry that makes it. It's good to see Tom gradually get to know her day by day, only for her to completely forget who he is when the day resets.
If I had to pick one flaw in the film it's the aliens themselves. You never really get much of a look at them. Yes, they're pretty horrid – fast moving squid-like things, but, because they're computer-generated and so damn speedy, they move in a blur and you never really get much of a look at them as they tend to kill the cast before we can take stock of their real form.
However, that's a minor point. Basically, if you either like Tom Cruise, sci-fi in general, or just a big-budget summer blockbuster that actually makes you think, then give it a go.