John Marsden is the Stephenie Meyer of Australia. But instead of dealing with amorous vampires, jealous werewolves, and the dour girl who digs both, he's dealing with far more serious stuff. As the author of the Tomorrow series, he's captured young adult imaginations down under with his Red Dawn-like tale of an enemy invasion, and the ragtag group of untrained teens who take it upon themselves to defend their tiny piece of Oz. Having sold more than three million copies, and with seven books in the series total (as well as a set of sequels and companion narratives), he argues both the horrors of conflict and the pain of adolescence. Now screenwriter-turned-first-time-director Stuart Beattie fashions the first film adaptation into a weird amalgamation of two Johns -- Hughes and Milius -- and the results, while formulaic, work just fine.
About to turn 18, Ellie (Caitlin Stasey) wants to take her father's ragged Range Rover out on a camping trip with her friends. They include best buddy Corrie (Rachel Hurd-Wood), Corrie's new beau Kevin (Lincoln Lewis), next door neighbor/good mate Homer (Deniz Akdeniz), snooty city girl Fiona (Phoebe Tonkin), preacher's daughter Robyn (Ashleigh Cummings), and potential paramour Lee (Chris Pang). Their destination? An isolated part of the Outback nicknamed "Hell." At first, it's all sexual tension and soulful conversations. But one night, they notice a squadron of military airplanes flying overhead. Returning home, they discover that their small Australian town of Wirrawee has been invaded, and a fierce foreign enemy has rounded up the residents and placed them in a camp. Initially afraid of fighting back, the group decides to defend themselves. While they argue the morality of such a stance, they prepare to go guerilla on the occupiers.
There's a delicate balance in Tomorrow When the War Began that Beattie manages to maintain with some amount of skill. Offering up a nice combination of high school angst and blockbuster action, he provides a hook to the demo already invested in Marsden's unique universe. Even better, he expands the possibilities, allowing character to coincide with cliche (the cool kid, the rich witch, etc.) to invite those outside the fan fray to join the cult. For anyone under the age of, say, 16, this is an amazing movie, a real adventure playing out among people one recognizes and easily identifies with. Anyone older will see through a few of the plot holes but still believe in the story's power to entertain.Beattie is at his best when dealing with the kids. He manages to make them realistic even when they are spouting stereotypical sentiments. But everything here is not peer pressure and the homeroom pecking order. Fiona is a hottie who can't get a date, believing that no one wants to be with her because her mom is so socially smothering. Robyn can't reconcile her religious views (she views any taking of life as immoral) with Homer's 'search and destroy' position. Even Kevin, the supposed stud, turns out to be a closet coward. About the only character here who acts like the persona he's saddled with is Chris (Andy Ryan), an elitist stoner more interested in getting high in his suburban bedroom than taking a stand. By rounding out the established archetypes, Beattie keeps us invested and, in combination with the stylish action, creates a compelling introduction to a possible film franchise.
And here's hoping that there are more movies in the wings. It's rare when a celebrated literary series -- especially one geared toward teens -- proves its mantle via cinematic translation. Tomorrow When the War Began may not be perfect, but it puts Twilight and all such genre wannabes to shame.
