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| Source: Lionsgate |
Going into this, I was interested to see why this was a production fiasco, as several delays and a lack of press coverage never bode well for big-budget adaptations of popular franchises. Borderlands is Hollywood’s newest playtoy in their quest to strike pixelated gold, but its lifeless personality, phoned-in performances from popular celebrities, and dull scripting make for a misfire that would’ve fit perfectly in the 90s adaptation void.
Eli Roth (The House with the Clock in the Walls, Thanksgiving) completely misunderstands how to make a bold and unapologetic action comedy, as it never feels like the constant “corny puns” and off-brand MCU humor work as intended. This especially hits home with the writing, with the execution of plot beats suffering as a result. Maybe someone specializing in low-concept horror fare isn't the best guy for a sci-fi tentpole?
The story takes place on the futuristic, lawless planet Pandora and follows a group of ragtag individuals attempting to find a legendary vault that may or may not hold treasures beyond comprehension. For starters, most of the expositional dialogue is delivered through Cate Blanchett’s narration, which doesn't allow viewers to get invested in the oddness of Pandora for themselves. There’s also plenty of predictable twists and barren characterization. To top it all off, it never feels like there’s much personality to this movie beyond repeated setpieces and one-liners. The filmmakers seem to understand what they are working with, but an adaptation of this caliber requires genuine passion and enthusiasm for it to be memorable.
Never has a movie been more confused about casting than this one, and the quality suffers because of it. It’s one thing for Jack Black to play another quippy character (Claptrap) with a robot underbite, but a confused Kevin Hart attempting to play an action hero (Roland) is where this stumbles. Additionally, it’s plain and clear that Cate Blanchett is a waterless mule in this, carrying the film so hard that she should certainly be saved from the inevitable Razzies this gets. Jamie Lee Curtis.. is just kind of there? Her nerdy performance is never depended on that much when she’s on-screen, but at least manages to stay consistent and polished throughout.
While it isn't the lowest for video game fare in recent memory, Borderlands might manage to appeal to the most hardcore fans of the franchise but will end up looking like a cheap cash-grab to a good majority of the general audience.
My Rating: 4/10 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Now playing in theaters!
A LIONSGATE/SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE
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