Tomorrow When The War Began**
Dir. Stuart Beattie. 103mins. Empire Theatres, Empire Dunes. June 2

John Marsden’s seven-book series starting with ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ has made him a cultural phenomenon in his native Australia, where he’s been voted the most popular living author. A group of pals return from a weekend break to discover their coastal town under enemy control and soldiers firing at anything that moves.

Protagonist Ellie finds herself shocked by her own capacity for action and would-be alpha-male Kevin crumbles in the circumstances, while Greek goofball Homer and homely churchgoer Robyn prove they’re made of sterner stuff. Although the decorative cast don’t plumb significant depths, there’s a vein of thoughtfulness running beneath the brazenly explosive action highlights and fist-pumping soundtrack.

Who are these invaders? ‘The Coalition’ is an invented pan-Asiatic grouping aiming to knock Australia off top spot in the region. Or something. It’s very hard to buy the idea they can land thousands of troops without anyone noticing, and the film’s inconclusive ending (more episodes to come, obviously) compounds our frustration. Strange days indeed.

Author: Trevor Johnston