The House of Tomorrow (2017) User Reviews

A look at the long lost Minnesota utopian dream

[garygwilliams · 5/10 · 31 May 2018]

I really like the casting for this movie. Both Asa Butterfield and Alex Wolff are great choices for the rebellious teens with unique situations that they attempt to overcome. Ellen Burstyn makes an authentic hippie grown old who maintains her antiquated ideals from the 70's. Nick Offerman as the single father of 2 teens who both have been scarred by his son's transplant. It is a tragic comedy that touches a number of age old teen angst topics. Another example of how a modest film with a limited budget can tell a marvelous story and develop characters we can feel real empathy for. The first film I have seen to capture the well intended but misguided Minnesota utopian world I once lived in.

Maybe if I was still a teen it would mean more to me

[jrneptune · 6/10 · 20 November 2018]

It was great to hear the back story about one of the greatest architects and minds ever. I really enjoyed that element of the story.

The rest seemed pulled from various teen novels that I failed to relate with. Maybe I am the wrong person to be making a review about a movie that wanted to focus on the punk music or rather elements of it.

Something is missing that I can't define about the movie.

I give it a pass but if you are a teen or enjoy the teen genre enjoy yourself.

Predictable, but solid casted retro type of a movie about youthful rebellion

[akcenat · 6/10 · 23 August 2018]

"The House of Tomorrow" is a tale of two isolated boys struggling to take control of their lives that's too clean-cut in its depiction of rebellion. In the movie, for me, everything around these two budding friends feels underdeveloped. The film is one of those quirky comedies filled with random contrived occurrences solely existing to push the plot forward. Some of those guideposts are profoundly insightful; others just feel dramatically convenient. As result, the story and characters deserve better than the amateurish scripting and cringe-inducing comedy on display here. It walks the line between decent and bad quite a bit, but unfortunately it have obvious, cliché ending. If you're a fan of punk rock, geodesic domes and an retro type of movies you will enjoy this film, otherwise I suggest that you skip it. 6-/10

Where is the comedy?

[ashley-kleynhans · 1/10 · 1 September 2018]

It really annoys me when I waste hours of my time watching a movie that is supposed to be a Drama/Comedy but there absolutely zero comedy content in the movie whatsoever.

If its a drama, it should be categorized as a drama and not as a drama/comedy, so that you can ensure that you're in the appropriate mood for watching it.

The movie is extremely boring, in fact more boring than watching paint dry. Its probably aimed at a younger audience and I just don't get it.

So so...but kept me intrigued

[tim-arnold777 · 3/10 · 17 December 2018]

But I've got to ask...did anyone else think that family baby picture that was stuck in the pages of the house manual supposed to be Sebastian? If so, Sebastian's dad looked freakishly like Jared Whitcomb. What was the intent there? Was the house of tomorrow a time machine? But that doesn't make any sense. Come to think of it, this movie doesn't make any sense.

Amazing

[dogmaticdogs · 10/10 · 2 September 2018]

This film is very under-rated. It is one of the most enjoyable coming of age films I have ever seen. The kids are beyond lovable, the acting is out of this world, and the dead pan satire is spot on. Do people just not understand the complexities of this gem? Sad. Very sad. I loved it. Perhaps that is because I was a child of the 70's who spent summers in MN as a kid, and was a nerd whose brother was in a punk rock band and who took me to various shows in the big city without parental permission. Thus, it was very relatable to me. I got it completely, and it felt like home. For those who say the characters were cliché, unrealistic or one dimensional, I guess you just had to live it. I actually knew someone that was similar to every character in the movie. It was a special place, and a special time. This movie allowed me to re-live it one more time. And for those that thought it wasn't funny, I am guessing you didn't find Nebraska funny either. Midwest humor and its people are often subtle and wholesome, with hints of underlying darkness. I guess not everyone gets it but to me it was perfection.

NOT A COMEDY and seriously misleading trailer

[bgaiv · 5/10 · 28 January 2022]

The trailer made this movie look like a whole lot more fun than it actually is. The trailer makes it look like a comedy but it's a fairly heavy drama and the few humorous bits are chuckle worthy at best.

It's a decent movie for what it is, perhaps even a good one, but I rated it low because how misrepresented it was. I was NOT in the mood for something so serious.

Punk Rock Teenage Rebellion - Inspirational For Misfits Of All Ages.

[rapid_randy · 9/10 · 9 August 2018]

If you were saved by Punk Rock as a teenager, this one is for you. It's not only an inspiration for the misfit kids of today but for the burnt out adults who gave up on their dreams to grow up. The dialog is well written, the soundtrack is excellent, and the acting is on point as well. I've seen Alex Wolff in a few movies now and believe he's going to be a huge star. From this role and a previous one, it's easy to see he's a fan of the same bands I've been inspired by over the years. Perhaps he'll start a band and we'll share the stage one day. The House of Tomorrow will go down as one of those coming of age cult classics such as Angus. -Rapid Randy

Extraordinary story of teens and rebellion!

[albfcc · 9/10 · 14 June 2018]

THE HOUSE Of TOMORROW (2017) 9 out of 10 Albert Stars

Worth seeing! This movie gets your attention and holds it via strengths of good acting and directing, rounded character development, an excellent script, and a fine story arc. It is not really about Buckminster Fuller's architecture, although that figures symbolically as the geodesic dome house-museum in which Ellen Burstyn and her charge live.

Instead, this tale is about two adolescents, one sheltered and played with great restraint and sensitivity by Asa Butterfield; and the other a rebellious, aspiring punk rocker played by Alex Wolff. The sheltered teen is zealously guarded by his granny, played superbly by Ellen Burstyn.

There is a good deal more to the story and many amusements and hijinx. But the main theme is caring - and is it is finely interpreted by the teens and the parental figures. Well done! Only available in selected theaters and via DVD

heart transplant, you dont say...

[polskijames-80063 · 8/10 · 9 February 2022]

Whenever I see medical subjects in film or tv it usually bothers me, because it seems there is always some thing they got wrong. But in this movie i was happy that they got it right. Jared didnt just have the 'zipper', he had the mediastinal chest tube scars. And, they took him to the cath lab, which is a popular place for heart transplant patients on the regular. And, and... the fluoro they showed on the monitor was an LAO/caudal view of clean coronaries. As a cath lab nurse, i was pleased. The movie was pretty good too, then again I have a soft spot for coming of age films and Alex Wolff.

Superb acting in an otherwise unfinished feeling film

[aidanratesmovies · 8/10 · 23 March 2019]

The House of Tomorrow is based off a great book which deserves to be made into a great film, this is not what we got. Instead the final product of this shelved work, seems more rushed than we hope for. That being said, there is still enjoyment to be found in this film, from all the fun filled performances, especially that from Alex Wolf, and the daring sense of adventure and friendship, which the film unfortunately doesn't get to reveal its full potential of, but what we got is still enough to settle for. The film is funny, but ultimately is too faced paced for its own good. We only hoped they could have spent more time on it, maybe then we could have got something great, rather than something simply fine. My Rating: 7.75/10

Filled with cliches, but great acting

[siderite · 8/10 · 15 October 2018]

What really shines in the film are the actors. Asa Butterfield and Alex Wolff are good, I dare say Nick Offerman is great. Not so much Ellen Burstyn, who had a cardboard role and a similar approach to it. The story is also interesting, although polluted with some tough to swallow cliches like "the teenage kid that never had soda and speaks like a dictionary" or "the nasty but good at heart kids". But once you get over those, the film is very pleasant. There are some scenes that are just wonderful.

Bottom line: coming of age story with a nice happy ending, an exploration of the teenage angst from the eyes of a naive and sheltered child raised in the spirit of futurism by a nutty grandmother. I recommend it.