Noble Jones’s film connecting the apocalyptic to the romantic sprawls throughout before an abrupt, if memorable conclusion.
Shot in Rochester, NY (the setting looks to be Syracuse) but looking more Midwestern The Tomorrow Man is veers from whimsy to the dramatic tenuously buoyed by the charm of its able, aging leads played by John Lithgow and Blythe Danner. His Ed and her Ronnie meet somewhat cute during shopping having a common habit of stockpiling though he might appear to be the stalking type but may be looking for commiseration with another collecting non-perishables.
Those who would be interested in this type of pap would likely be in their own cozy confines as this slight, quirky enterprise really doesn’t know how to handle the central relationship with verve. A twist or two and the furtive will come to the fore as there will be odd discourse, the inclusion of a mid-1970s pop hit “Muskrat Love”, and a Thanksgiving dinner that gives underlying characters like Sophie Thatcher a chance to move the needle a bit.
Being in the company of Lithgow (Ed preps for the worst-case scenario, is in an on-line forum, and may be the focus of a local newscaster) and Danner (who’s shined in her twilight years and her husky voice gets much use in commercials these days) isn’t such a bad thing. But, The Tomorrow Man is barely eventful even for two actors who’ve never been on-screen together as Jones’ narrative isn’t worthy of their talents. Even with a pop of a finale.