This doc is a love letter to the science fiction films of the 1980s.
In Search of Tomorrow is an in-depth documentary that looks back on many of the sci-fi films that defined the 1980s. The doc recalls flicks like Flight of the Navigator, Aliens, Weird Science, Back to the Future, Cocoon, and so many more. The doc gives those involved with said films a platform to offer insightful commentary on a decade rich with science fiction classics. The film features the perspectives of familiar faces, field experts, entertainment journalists, and more.
In Search of Tomorrow functions as a fairly inclusive history of the sci-fi genre in the 1980s. The film is comprehensive and quite informative. In a perfect world, the doc would have been several hours shorter (for those with a limited attention span). But it’s hard for me to pinpoint anything that should have been cut. As much as I dislike sitting still for five hours(!) I found that I was really taken with the subject matter. So, while I’d like to have seen it split into two volumes, I think the robust nature of the runtime is probably necessary to avoid having to gloss over or completely eliminate some really important titles.
The only minor quibble I have with In Search of Tomorrowpertains to editing. The doc presents the films featured by year, which is logical. But there are supplementary segments that do not necessarily go in chronological order and that aspect feels a bit haphazard. The end result is that the progression of the film feels slightly discombobulated when the segments intersect. If the coverage of films broken down by year had aired in a block, followed by all the breakout segments airing back-to-back, it would have felt more cohesive. But that’s something of a personal preference, so some viewers might not be bothered by that.
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Small criticisms aside, I can say In Search of Tomorrow pays loving tribute to each title that it covers, even including several that aren’t fondly remembered. The film’s runtime is substantial, which is good in terms of being exhaustive but it may be asking a lot of fans to marathon in a single session. So, plan on breaking up your viewing if you have a tendency to get antsy at the thought of sitting still for just under five hours.
Time commitment aside, one aspect that really stands out to me as unusual but really cool is the way the doc brings on people like Joey Cramer from Flight of the Navigator or Alex Winter from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure to talk, not only about their own films, but about features they, themselves, are fond of. So, we get to see the directors, stars, and various crew members speak to their own features, as well as chat about their experience as a fan of projects that inspired them. That’s an unusual approach and I loved it. I enjoyed getting to see actors and directors that I love talk about films that they nerd out over.
The film also impressed me by delving into some really fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the science fiction flicks of yesteryear. One such instance recalls the infamous casting switch-up that happened during the production of Back to the Future. It’s interesting to hear the details recounted by people close to the production and equally interesting to see a sincere analysis of exactly what went wrong with Howard the Duck.
Perhaps the best feature of In Search of Tomorrow is that Ivan Reitman appears posthumously and that is a real gift. It’s meaningful to be able to see the talented creator reflect on some amazing projects and I’m so grateful he was able to sign on to this comprehensive doc.
So, if you’re on the fence about checking out the film, I would suggest giving it a look. But allow me to reiterate: It might be wise to split this into two or three (or even four) sessions. Watching the entire flick in one sitting was a lot to take in. But it was well worth it.
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Summary
In Search of Tomorrow is a lengthy love letter to a nostalgic sweet spot in science fiction filmmaking.
