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Edge of Tomorrow (2014), PG-13, ★★★1/2

Tom Cruise in combat.
Time-looping. Have you ever seen Groundhog Day? I have. Have you ever seen Groundhog Day? I have and it's a film starring Bill Murray. Have you ever seen Groundhog Day? I have and it's a spectacularly funny film starring Bill Murray which is one of my favorite comedies ever. See how I started this review. Filmmakers try hard to place that "time-looping" formula in a great film, however, they need a great story, interesting characters, and a well-executed premise. I thought Source Code was a pretty nifty film about a man trying to find the perpetrator to find the bomber in 7 minutes. This movie, however, is Source Code, Groundhog Day, Starship Troopers, Aliens and a hint of Looper all in one package. And, this is the most delightful surprise of the summer.

I cannot reveal much of the plot in this review, so, bear with me.

For 5 years, the human race has been at war with an alien race called The Mimics, shown in a great newsreel in the opening summarizing the alien invasion. After destroying most of Europe, the army of humans uses mechanized suits to win a battle in Verdun and Sgt. Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a Special Armed Forces offer, is being hailed as a hero after many Mimic kills. The United Defenses Force (UDF) uses her heroism as publicity for momentum to launch a multi-pronged final assault on Europe. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), a UDF spokesman and officer in the Army Reserve, advertises her heroism.

Cage meets with General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson), thinking that he is going to be sent to boost the General's public image, but, Brigham orders Cage to join the first wave of Allied Forces to France to provide media coverage. The Mimics anticipate the attack and although Cage kills a Mimic, he dies. But, he wakes up in Heathrow being debriefed the same way. Cage realized he is in a time loop and tries to convince the soldiers of the anticipated invasion. He loops several times and tries to save as many soldiers as he can, including Rita. Rita knows he is trying to save soldiers and they both die in an explosion. They both loop and he tells Rita that he knows her in the following day's invasion and she believes him. She, too, has the ability to restart her life. They have to find a way to stop the Mimics from destroying many countries and worlds with time loops.

Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) training Cage (Cruise) repeatedly.
This is the second movie with time changes serve as a purpose of the plot, the first being X-Men: Days of Future Past. I was amazed and surprised by the film because of analysts predicting that this movie will be a disaster due to the low publicity. I think they advertised the film enough to show the premise and the plot techniques hammering Cruise's character. If people do not have an open mind because of Cruise's personality and repetitive nature of the same event but different ways to change it, then, they will miss out on an insightful and narrative storyline that propels the movie with action and ferocious velocity.

Tom Cruise has been in some OK to decent movies such as Jack Reacher and Oblivion, but this movie establishes him again as an actor who is still capable to control the film. Besides the latest Mission: Impossible sequel, this is his strongest film in a while since Mission: Impossible III and Collateral. And, he's compelling and funny in this film as not such a tough guy in the beginning, but he persists to prevent the attack from happening and it is a bit refreshing. Emily Blunt plays a bad-ass soldier reminiscent of Ripley from the Alien movies. She nails her role with spunk and determination to help Cruise along this journey. Bill Paxton plays another soldier and was great to see him in this genre again reminding me of his character in Aliens and Brendan Gleeson is fine in his role.

The action sequences are very intense for a PG-13 movie with many gunshots to the head and alien blood. I did not mind that, but, it is definitely one of those heavier PG-13 movies that I have seen. The Mimics look very intimidating and belligerent that they were credible villains to view as one of the most tenacious alien creatures in movie history, but, time will tell. My only quibble with this film is the ending and not revealing the conclusion, it is a corny denouement.

Credit Doug Liman, the director of The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, for crafting such a technical and advanced sci-fi film in trying to navigate us the characters' perspective of what they are trying to accomplish. You have to pay attention as to why the characters are going in the time loops. I hope people will see this film and enjoy this because this is a wildly fun film full of charisma, action, and humor. Hey, if you despise Cruise, at least, you can see him get killed many times in the movie. Nevertheless, this is a superbly-crafted popcorn flick.

***1/2

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