Tomorrowland (2015)

Jack and I didn't hate this story of a smart, determined boy in the 1960s and a smart, determined girl in the present who travel in time. What we loved were the retro stylings, including the 1964 World's Fair. Personal note: my family moved from New York to the heartland in 1963 but we did make a trip back to Queens for that Fair on the site of the future (and now past) Shea Stadium and I sort of remember it.

Thomas Robinson (the kid in The Switch) is cute as 10-year-old Frank but George Clooney (last blogged in The Grand Budapest Hotel) as grown up Frank lacks Clooney's signature humor. Britt Robertson (Dan in Real Life (2007) and a small part in Delivery Man) is extremely earnest as 16-year-old Casey. Raffey Cassidy's (I don't remember her in Dark Shadows) striking good looks and acting skills as young Athena promise a good future for her should she stay in the business. Another thing I loved was a blue dress worn by Athena in the 1964 sequence (scroll down on this link to see a photo). Tim McGraw (most recently in these pages for Country Strong) makes an appearance as Frank's father. It's always fun to see Hugh Laurie (profiled in The Oranges), even with, again, no humor. Leave it to Keegan-Michael Key (half of comedy duo Key & Peele, a series arc as Joe on Parks and Recreation, and much more) and Kathryn Hahn (last in This Is Where I Leave You) to tease out a few chuckles in a comic book shop scene (according to an interview with co-writer Damon Lindelof (most recently blogged for Prometheus), that scene is full of "Easter eggs") that made me think of Men in Black.

Lindelof's co-writer was director Brad Bird (last directed Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol). It wouldn't have killed them to make it lighter. Maybe it was Disney's fault. It's a Small World, after all (yep, that song is in there, and now in your ear). In fact, the basis of the whole movie is the Disney theme area, Tomorrowland, at that 1964 World's Fair. From the opening credits, where the usual Disney castle is modified to match this movie, to the future world, which looks just like it (and a little like the Emerald City), you won't forget that this is Walt's small world.

Composer Michael Giacchino (most recently scored This Is Where I Leave You) reliably provides interesting tunes (stream the whole thing here) and there are great tracks by The Black Keys and Hound Dog Taylor.

Critics came closer to hating this, averaging 49% to audiences' 58% on Rotten Tomatoes. I'm not advocating you to skip it, but you could probably wait.