Tomorrow, When the War Began Review

The problem with the increasing quality of modern television is that it can make the movies look cheap. Big-budget programmes such as Lost or The Pacificlook pretty much like full-scale films, so when a film comes along with big ideas it wants to portray on a grand scale, it is not only competing with whatever else is in circulation in the multiplexes, but now also with what is being directly broadcast into viewer’s homes. And it’s this kind of comparison with show such as Lost, The Pacific or V that hampers the enjoyment of the grammatically awkward Tomorrow, When the War Began.

The film centres on a group of preposterously good-looking teenagers who take a camping trip in the Australian outback, whose main concern is getting their rocks off with each other. Upon their return to their homes, they discover Australia has been invaded by an unknown military force and are forced into hiding and guerrilla warfare. The de facto leader of the group, Ellie (Caitlin Stasey), narrates the action and one of the film’s focuses is on her transformation from average teen to Sarah Connor-like warrior woman.

The film is surprisingly enjoyable. Whilst the dialogue is occasionally dumb – thoughts and feelings are often articulated when they should be implied visually – and characters drawn perhaps more broadly than strictly necessary, the film is otherwise exciting, sometimes moving and not so wholly unrealistic as to mar one’s enjoyment. There are no real weak links in the young cast – indeed, you get the impression that they could be even more impressive with a slightly stronger script, especially Phoebe Tonkin as Fi – and Stasey is particularly impressive in her role and is, pleasingly, a great female character, with nuanced strengths and weaknesses. Deniz Akdeniz is also good as Homer, who transforms from rebellious troublemaker to gutsy freedom fighter. Subtle reflections on Australia’s racial prejudices are also welcome. The film occasionally flirts dangerously with cheesiness, but manages to avoid any major mistakes.

Director and script writer Stuart Beattie (who adapted the film from the source novel by John Marsden) handles the action impressively for his first foray behind a camera, mixing interesting shots, splendid vistas and special effects pyrotechnics strikingly. So far, then, so good. Where the film falters though, is in its somewhat rushed development of character – the teens’ characters change somewhat abruptly throughout the film. Kevin (Lincoln Lewis) switches from cowardly idiot to brave and noble soldier almost instantaneously; Robyn (Ashleigh Cummings) from pacifist to killer even more quickly. There are other examples too. Now sure, the surprise invasion obviously provokes the characters to grow up quickly, but one gets the impression that the source material would have handled these changes altogether more effectively than a hundred minute film. Which brings us to our original problem – would Tomorrow, When the War Began be better suited to television?

It certainly looks televisual – which is more a complement towards the rising production values of TV than a slur on the film – and it takes many of its cues from the aforementioned programmes (The Pacific’s tropical conflicts, Lost’s mixture of drama, action and character study and V’s invasion theme). Perhaps if it had been conceived as a television programme, it would have had the space to create the sprawling, involving drama it seems it would like to be. It’s a better than average, perhaps even great film, that just seems slightly restricted by its form. Established fans are unlikely to be troubled by this, however, and film is certain to attract many more devotees to the franchise. The now green-lit sequel will be met with even higher expectations and one would be disappointed if it didn’t live up to them.