Amazon Prime’s purchase of The Tomorrow War from Paramount was a bold move, as the FX-laden film starring Chris Pratt reportedly cost them roughly $200 million – but it paid off.
Pratt stars as an ex-soldier named Dan Forester who has just been turned down for a research job and has to remain a science teacher to less than enthusiastic students.
While watching a soccer match with his wife, daughter, and friends, Dan witnesses a spectacle on the field: the world is stunned when a group of armed individuals appear in a flash of light and tell the televised audience that they have come from thirty years in the future and are seeking help to save humanity.
An alien threat they call the White Spikes suddenly appeared and humanity is on the verge of extinction. The nations of the world send forces into the future to help fight the war but with the casualty rate is high. A worldwide draft is instituted to replenish the numbers.
Dan is eventually drafted and told he has 24 hours to get things in order before he is deployed for a seven day tour of combat duty in the future. Dan contemplates running, but eventually deploys, finding a nightmare version of the future in which the human cities are in ruins, and the formidable enemy is everywhere. As tension mounts, Dan must team up with the leader of the resistance to develop a way to fight the aliens and save humanity before it is too late.
The Tomorrow War features some good effects and action, and while there were many times I had questions as to why a different course of action was not attempted, the film eventually makes good on the sacred pact all movies must have with their audiences. What might have been plot holes were addressed nicely.
While the final act may seem overblown and too convenient, the film works as an enjoyable and action-filled escape as long as you are willing to just go along with the ride and not ask too many questions along the way.
Tropes from other science fiction and horror films were used liberally, but despite this, the cast and premise work well and the movie is a step above most offerings sold to streaming services and is well worth a watch.
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