By Jesse Saunders
Columnist
While “Insurgent” certainly surpasses its predecessor, it still lacks the bite it needs to make any sort of impact on the regular movie going crowd.
Squared up against its competitors like “The Hunger Games,” the “Divergent” series second film is struggling to remain mediocre.
“Insurgent” contains both up and coming and A-list actors such as Octavia Spencer as the Amity leader Johanna, but seems lost on what to do with them.
Larger characters in the book are reduced to small cameo appearances to make way for the lead character’s, Tris (Shailene Woodley), inner battles, forcing them to remain discount “Hunger Games” characters, with nothing new to offer.
Overall the lack of depth can be attributed to the lackluster writing. Characters are introduced and then sent away without being again. Characters are turned into plot devices. Johanna willingly puts her own life on the line to aid Tris, but isn’t given the time to develop as her own character. The film takes these very talented actors and hands them soap opera dialogue.
The only character other than Tris who is really able to develop in any way is Peter (Miles Teller). Teller is a huge advantage to the film, as one of the most talented young actors on the cast list, performing each scene better than the last.
He is able to deliver the over-the-top cliché lines in a believable way that even some of the veteran actors seem to have trouble with.
Following the events of “Divergent,” the sequel follows the fugitives in their journey to take down the oppressive leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet). While the holes in the plot of the first film were easily laughed off, they grow each second during this film. None of the terms are clearly defined. The term Divergent is cheap and is a more baffling concept in this film than it was in the previous.
Tris is raised up as this intensely rare, perfect Divergent, but seems to display none of the qualities that go along with her title. The film seems split on making Tris a well-rounded character and an out of this world hero. Tris becomes both untouchable and unlikeable, and the end of the film no longer invests the audience in her fate.
While the battle is set up as the climax of the film, the only plot point that gets any attention is Tris’s inner battle. Five minutes cannot go by without some sort of dream sequence or simulation interrupting. These replace any chance at character development within the film.
Furthermore the antagonist is so cartoonish in her villainy that it’s baffling that anyone would side with her.
The film seems scared for characters to show any motivation. Hidden agendas, or confused morals are never explained or even hinted at. Characters that are supposedly not trustworthy never go beyond just being slightly shifty. Each death or fight is a huge spectacle, whereas the film’s quiet moments are quick and fleeting.
Unlike the first movie, the audience is never given a chance to take in the information in front of them. The causalities in the film are pointless, and lose emotional impact quickly. In an attempt to remain fast paced and interesting, the film misses the mark, and becomes an empty action film.
Even Tris’s inner battles have no real impact. They jump from being impossible to overcome to fixed in one quick scene.
The films few saving graces are the style and design. The world shown on the film looks so polished while still maintaining the grit of a crumbling ruin. The design of the film is the only original part.
“Insurgent” and the “Divergent” series as a whole is exactly what is wrong with the new dystopian young adult film craze. It puts of the illusion of being deep and dealing with adult issues in a different setting, but falls flat. Its strange plot alienates non-fans and makes it hard to even enjoy as a popcorn flick.