TOMORROWLAND is one of those movies that is more disappointing than many regarded as outright 'bombs'. No, it's not awful, just terribly underwhelming considering the talent and resources devoted to it. Worse, you can see where a decent movie could have emerged, but, it stubbornly never does.

Chief among the talents involved is Director Brad Bird who's resume includes RATATOUILLE, THE INCREDIBLES and THE IRON GIANT. His prior live action feature, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL was also warmly received. So, what went wrong? The blogosphere has pinned the blame mainly on writer Damien Lindelof he of Lost, The Leftovers and two of the most despised genre films of the past few years: PROMETHEUS and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (famously voted the worst Trek film ever by Trekkies).

Certainly, TOMORROWLAND displays many of the trademarks of Lindelof's work: sharp, snazzy setpieces with 'witty' barbs, but showing little concern for narrative consistency or payoff. TOMORROWLAND displays an almost perverse refusal to get the story going. A full half hour in, and it's all fits and starts. When the storyline finally becomes clear, you wonder why it took so long to get to the point! Really, it's not that complicated. Trust your viewers to get up to speed.

The premise isn't bad, but, feels under-thought out. Bird shows off his keen sense of retro-futurism that he did so well in THE INCREDIBLES and IRON GIANT, but the 'Tomorrowland' sequences never mesh with the present day setting. Clooney is fine doing his charm thing. Britt Robertson isn't bad as the spunky heroine. Hugh Laurie is decent, even if his character isn't fully defined - Good guy? Bad guy? Misunderstood? Mostly, Laurie is reduced to being Dr. Basil Exposition. Best of all may be Raffey Cassidy as Athena the cute, if creepy, 'bot.

Lindelof may get the ire, but Brad Bird can't be let off the hook. He's co-credited as a writer, and, of course, was the Director. One of the movie's coolest sets is Blast From The Past. It's the ultimate fanboy geek's store, full of every Sci-fi fans' dream collectibles (including several Iron Giant pieces). But, a bunch of toys doesn't a story make. Sure, you can pull one off of a shelf, but, it's just a artifact - not the real thing. TOMORROWLAND feels a bit like that - a bunch of sharp-looking pieces, but, no whole.

While it is welcome to see a movie with a glimmer of optimism for the future instead of a dire dystopia, a movie has to earn that ray of sunshine rather than just aspire to one. Similarly, in some alternate future, TOMORROWLAND may be a great movie. Unfortunately, we live in this one - where it ain't.