Sebastian and Jared form a band, and with his Nana's dreams, his first real friendship, and a church talent show at stake, Sebastian must decide if he wants to become the next Buckminster Fuller, the next Sid Vicious, or something else entirely.
Put in its proper context... first-time writer-director Peter Livolsi's story of punk rock meeting R. Buckminster Fuller in small-town Minnesota feels like just another hopelessly musty and dreadfully quirk-heavy, Sundance-style mope-fest.
Doesn't quite ring true... but [Asa] Butterfield and [Alex] Wolff's terrific chemistry more than makes up for it. Those crazy kids have a bright tomorrow.
A tender story about life, death, and punk, "The House of Tomorrow" is that rare kind of teen film that relates both to the kids and the parents alike.
Part of what's missing in "The House of Tomorrow" is the acerbic punk spirit that inspires its two heroes, which could have been remedied by a sharper script.
It's not until the end that everything truly lines up, with Fuller positioned as an original punk. But as a film about punk rock, living on the edge and coming into your own, The House of Tomorrow is a strong debut from Livolsi.
