MOVIE REVIEW – Two Oscar-winning veteran actresses star in the Gearbox video game adaptation, which brings the zany, humorous, Mad Max-esque world of Borderlands to life. Filmed in Hungary, Borderlands features Cate Blanchett, who at 52 attempts to convince us she can still credibly play a thirty-something action hero, and Jaime Lee Curtis, who looks utterly confused as to why she’s in this crazy action-comedy. But what about the film itself? Is it another successful video game adaptation like Fallout, or just more evidence that Fallout was a rare exception proving the rule that most video game movies flop?

The story, based on the games, starts off quite simply and predictably. The film’s protagonist, Lilith (Cate Blanchett), a bounty hunter well-known from the games, sets out on a mission to find Atlas (Edgar Ramirez), a corporate titan (and future villain)’s missing daughter. The daughter allegedly possesses a power that can open a vault containing “unimaginable” lost treasures.

The fun really begins when a six-person alliance forms, including the ex-elite mercenary Roland (Kevin Hart), the bumbling robot Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), the missing girl Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), and the brawny Krieg (Florian Munteanu). Scientist Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis) joins this quirky and unique (or at least intended to be) group later in the film, as they battle evil bandits and alien monsters to protect the girl.

Even if you’ve never played a Borderlands game, you’ll still get it

Borderlands doesn’t demand that you know its universe or delve deeply into its “techno-babble,” meaning that even those who haven’t played the games can follow the story. However, this only applies to the casual viewer; those curious about why Atlas is so significant in this universe, who the Sirens are, and why they are so powerful, or why the “Vault” is so appealing and what treasures those who chase it expect, won’t find answers in the film. I won’t spoil anything, but many questions are left lazily unanswered, or the answers are so cliché and meaningless that viewers unfamiliar with the games, and likely even those who are, will just shrug.

Another major flaw is that the film often struggles to capture the games’ dark humor. Claptrap might be the only character who is somewhat funny, but even he isn’t always on point. The film’s sense of humor often feels forced, which is disappointing for fans of the game. Sure, there were laughs at the press screening, but many felt more obligatory than genuine.

The creators went all out on the CGI

The visual world of the film tries hard to replicate the games’ distinctive cel-shaded look. This is partially successful, but at the cost of over-relying on CGI, much of which is mediocre, with some effects looking downright tacky and garish. The fire effects on the Sirens’ backs, for example, are particularly cheesy, resembling something out of a low-budget ‘80s sci-fi TV series. Not all the visual effects are bad; some are quite good, but overall, the result is mixed.

The same can be said for the action scenes, which are generally mediocre. They’re not glaringly bad, but neither are they adrenaline-pumping. One action scene even put me to sleep. Often, the issue isn’t technical execution but a complete lack of imagination and creativity. The big final showdown, for example, is painfully dumb, despite being set up by a twist well-integrated into the film (and familiar to fans of the games).

The film compulsively tries to capture the game’s atmosphere through its action sequences, with moments that make you think, “If this were a Borderlands game, this would be the first boss fight. Now here comes a cutscene from the game.”

Do two Oscars guarantee top-notch acting?

Well… not really. Cate Blanchett tries to use all her acting chops to play the cool action heroine twenty years her junior, and she often succeeds, but not always. Sometimes the effort shows too much, as she strikes poses as the fiery redhead Lilith, and other times the camera is a bit too “cruel” with close-ups.

Much more disappointing is Jaime Lee Curtis, who clearly has no idea what she’s doing in this film. Her stiff, awkward gestures and poorly timed emotions make it hard to believe how professional she was in 2018’s Halloween, the second season of Disney’s Bear series, or Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she recently won an Oscar. It’s clear to me that this is due to Eli Roth’s clumsy direction because Curtis is capable of much more than what we see here, even in a film like this.

We must also mention Edgar Ramirez, who is equally lackluster as the utterly boring villain Atlas. This is probably one of his most forgettable performances, but again, it’s mainly due to the stupid script, weak dialogues, and poor directing.

Finally, Kevin Hart as Roland, who is a huge comic in other films, here is reminiscent of a classic movie title: “The Man Who Wasn’t There.” Kevin Hart here is the comic actor who wasn’t really present.

Decidedly mediocre “Borderlands”

Despite all this, Borderlands isn’t unwatchably bad, just a strongly mediocre film. If you don’t expect much, just a simple sci-fi action comedy, or you’re such a big fan that you’re happy if the film ticks the fan service boxes and captures the games’ crazy vibe, then you can have a relatively pleasant movie night with it – especially in IMAX. Just make sure you have enough popcorn and soda, because that’s the only way to watch this…

-Herpai Gergely “BadSector”-