Sigh. “Tomorrow When the War Began” (2012) looked SO promising – like an Australian version of “Red Dawn” (1984). Is there any movie more badass than “Red Dawn?” Is there any nation more badass than Australia?

Instead, this was like “Red Dawn Lite.” Should we call it “Pink Dawn?” No … that sounds like Gay rights activists invading the Bible Belt. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.  They’d get their First and Ninth Amendment Rights, along with the equal protection under the law that they deserve under the 14^th Amendment.

Okay, I’m meandering. That’s because this film was so lackluster, it’s not even terribly fun to write about. Don’t get me wrong – this wasn’t a poorly made film. It was well written and directed, with promising young actors. It had great characters too – particularly the goofy guy who becomes a responsible leader. Parts of it were quite funny and it usually held my interest.

But this just wasn’t what I was hoping for – a visceral foreign invasion thriller. It’s obviously a tween movie – like “Red Dawn” given “The Hunger Games” treatment. Most of this film’s screen time is devoted to character development, including (of course) at least one unlikely teen romance. The nameless invaders seem to get less screen time (or attention from the characters) than a fun overnight camping trip that the teen heroes undertake.

Seriously. More script and plotting are devoted to their camping trip than to the armies invading their country. The (presumably North Korean) invaders must be the shyest opposing force ever – for much of the movie, we hardly see them. Are they embarrassed because their helmets make them look like those guys who fire the Death Star superweapon?

I’d give this movie a 6 out of 10.