Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Welcome back to Born to Watch, where this week the team tackles the endlessly rewatchable, criminally underappreciated Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Strap in as Whitey, Damo, and Dan on the Land gear up for a sci-fi action loop fest featuring Tom Cruise in one of his most against-type roles, Emily Blunt as a full-metal badass, and a time-travel plot that actually sticks the landing. Enjoy our Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Review!

The boys jump right into the paradox-riddled battlefield, first marveling at how this epic blockbuster somehow bombed in the US, despite being everything a great action movie should be. They blame lousy marketing, title confusion (was it Live Die Repeat?), and the fact that in 2014, Cruise was still on Hollywood’s naughty step thanks to Oprah’s couch.

But now? It’s cult-classic gold.

Whitey kicks off by calling out just how rare it is to see Cruise playing the weasel, Major Cage is an ad man thrown into combat, clueless and terrified. For Dan, this fish-out-of-water arc makes the movie shine, watching Cruise go from smug coward to unstoppable warrior. Damo agrees, even calling Edge of Tomorrow his number one Cruise performance, yep, he goes there.

Emily Blunt earns unanimous praise as Rita Vrataski, the “Angel of Verdun” and all-around exosuit-slaying legend. She’s fierce, stoic, and fit as hell, basically the action heroine we didn’t know we needed in 2014. Her iconic push-up entrance gets a lot of airtime (and a few longing sighs), and the team agrees she holds her own, and then some, against Cruise.

And what would a Born to Watch ep be without the usual blend of insight and irreverence? We get tangents on everything from duck anatomy (cloacas, anyone?) to Bill Paxton’s legendary status as the only man killed by a Terminator, a Predator, and an Alien. The Paxton love is real.

The pod dives into director Doug Liman’s sharp visuals and crisp pacing, and shout out screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, who somehow turns a convoluted time loop premise into a tight, clever, and emotional thrill ride. Liman’s resume (Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) gets the props it deserves, and there’s a great sidebar on the upcoming Road House remake, complete with hot takes on Jake Gyllenhaal.

As always, the “Hit, Sleeper, Dud” segment delivers, with Gone Girl getting the nod as a masterful hit, Kevin Costner’s 3 Days to Kill as a solid sleeper, and Lucy (sorry, ScarJo) landing squarely in dud territory. Bonus points for Damo's vivid breakdown of Ben Affleck's infamous side-dick scene.

The episode also features a glorious Cruise countdown. Each host reveals their top five Tom Cruise films, expect Jerry Maguire, Collateral, Top Gun: Maverick, and of course, Edge of Tomorrow, to make appearances. Damo even throws in Tropic Thunder, because who can forget Les Grossman?

Then there’s the philosophical stuff: How long was Cage actually in the time loop? (Answer: a hell of a long time). Was blackmailing the general really the best plan? (Debatable). And what’s the real ending? (Whitey thinks it’s Cruise’s “now you’re gonna bone me” smile).

Oh, and voicemails are back! Listeners call in to rant about The Bodyguard, praise the pod’s Whitney Houston renditions, and drop the occasional F-bomb. Classic Born to Watch fan energy.

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Join the conversation:

• Is Edge of Tomorrow Cruise’s most underrated film?
•  Would you waste 300 time loops trying to get with Emily Blunt?
•  Did this movie deserve to flop—or is it a misunderstood masterpiece?

Drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and be part of the show!

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