Tom Cruise's New Film Looks... Repetitive

The trailer for Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt's new film, Edge of Tomorrow was just released and, you guys, it doesn't look too great. It's basically the action movie version of Groundhog Day. Tom Cruise relives the same events over and over again while fighting aliens in Transformers-looking armor. The movie's hashtag (which is maybe also its tagline? hashtagline!) is #LiveDieRepeat. Doesn't that just sound boring? Doesn't that just sound like something you actively wouldn't want to watch?

Well, let's see what the trailer does to try to get us interested. First there's Tom Cruise, the natural lead for a movie like this. Then there's Emily Blunt who is a perfectly fine choice; although if you're like me and feel a connection to her due to your love of John Krasinski, maybe you want better for her than this film. And there's the action. Lots and lots and lots of action. There's soldiers being dropped into the heart of battle, war planes flying, and no lack of things exploding. Also, at one point Cruise appears to walk in on Blunt doing yoga which is obviously supposed to be sexy and hints at an inevitable love story.

The idea of Edge of Tomorrow isn't inherently bad. It's based on a novel called All You Need Is Kill. It seems to me that it's just better suited for a book than a movie. When you go to an action movie you want to see different fight scenes and have a story that builds upon itself in more linear way. Otherwise it's boring because there aren't the emotional stakes you have with a drama or the laughs you have with a comedy. If this had been a psychological thriller, maybe that would make more sense, but it looks very classic action movie from the trailer. The official synopsis isn't helping:

"Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt)."

It really just sounds like you'll be watching the same thing again and again for two hours with a couple sentimental moments thrown in before they eventually win the alien war and save Earth. Because that is how it will end and if it doesn't then maybe I'm not giving this movie the respect it deserves. I must say, it would be pretty awesome if after all that #LiveDieRepeating, Earth still succumbs to aliens and Cruise's character dies for good. That's likely just wishful thinking though. I see this one ending with victory topped off with a kiss.

PS — Rita was also the love interest's name in Groundhog Day. Coincidence? I think not!

Images: Village Roadshow Pictures