Movie Review: Tomorrow, When The War Began

<Tomorrow When the War Began</i>. Photo / Supplied

Rating: 3/5
Verdict: Teen action flick deals with life and death themes

Tomorrow, When the War Began may be a simplistic adaptation of John Marsden's popular novel, but screenwriter and director Stuart Beattie has chosen his teenage cast well, thrown in some impressive stunts, and has delivered what will likely be the first in a series of entertaining films of Marsden's books, appealing to teenagers and adults alike.

The film is set in Wirrawee, a small rural coastal town in northern Australia, where 17-year-old Ellie Linton (Stasey) and her six friends head off on their own to a remote bush paradise affectionately named Hell.

Returning from their camping trip, they find their homes deserted. As they approach the township the teenagers discover little old Wirrawee has been invaded by a foreign army, and their families are being held captive in a detention camp.

It's back to the bush to regroup and make big plans to disrupt the invasion. Though it is undoubtedly cheaper to bring a story of this magnitude to life when set in a small, remote country town, the film still feels restricted by budget and it is hard to convince us the whole of Australia has been invaded.

With no backstory, it feels like the invasion is random and unbelieveable, even if the cast's performances convince us to go along for the ride.

Beattie also ups the ante with a few big scale explosions and stunts to invigorate this story. There are cheesy moments, and time, amazingly, for a little teenage romance. But it is getting to know and care about these characters that draws you into this story rather than the film's bigger themes of freedom and war.

With a cast that Neighbours and Home and Away fans will recognise, Tomorrow When the War Began might only appeal to a teenage audience. But there's enough pace, action and that familiar Aussie sense of humour to make it enjoyable for all.

Cast: Caitlin Stasey, Lincoln Lewis, Rachel Hurd-Wood
Director: Stuart Beattie
Running time: 105 mins
Rating: M, violence, offensive language and drug use

-TimeOut