Score: 2/5
At this point, no matter how awful the movie, studios can’t seem to get that final nail into the young adult dystopian fantasy coffin. Other than “The Hunger Games,” this dystopian craze hasn’t really paid off, and “Insurgent” is no exception.
As the sequel to last year’s “Divergent,” the film follows Shailene Woodley’s character Tris Prior, with Theo James as her boyfriend, Four, and Ansel Elgort as her brother, Caleb Prior, as they continue their fight against the powerful faction leader Jeanine, who threatens to destroy their society. Miles Teller and Kate Winslet also star as Peter and Jeanine, respectively.
All movie long, there is a wait for something substantial to happen. “Insurgent” leaves hints and trails of actual excitement, but in the end, what’s left is a dull climax featuring a “what’s in the box” scenario with far less payoff than Brad Pitt in “Se7en,” or even Neil Patrick Harris at this year’s Academy Awards.
The romance between Tris and Four isn’t just forced, it beats the audience over the head. In action movies, romance works best when it adds to the plot and doesn’t make the viewer want to hit fast forward to get to the interesting parts like in “Insurgent.”
Shailene Woodley does well as Tris, but for some reason she always seems to look like she’s doing a photoshoot. No matter what bloody fight she’s gotten herself into, Tris somehow maintains perfect hair and makeup.
Another seemingly small problem turned big is the use of slow motion. At first, it wasn’t noticeable, but by the end of the movie, nearly every action scene was in slow motion and becomes incredibly distracting.
One of the film’s brightest spots is Miles Teller, who thankfully has enough charisma to fill a dystopian wasteland. He’s consistently charming, no matter if his character is one of the good guys or not.
The film’s plot is so convoluted and contrived, it’s tough to follow along or care about anything that’s happening. Though Shailene Woodley excels as Tris, there is no real character development for anyone involved. “Insurgent” presents potentially interesting main and supporting characters, but they are never expanded on, or given real motivations.
There is a good movie inside of “Insurgent,” and with the right script, it could’ve gone from wasted potential, to good action flick. Instead, viewers are left with another forgettable and mediocre entry in the young adult dystopian desert.
You can reach Kayla Randall on Twitter at @kay_ran21.