Uncharted is a lot more fun when operating via video game controller
The video game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was released in November, 2007 for the Playstation console. It was an immediate hit, spawning four main series sequels and a handful of spin-offs. When Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was released in 2009, chatter about a film adaptation began to take shape, since the series began earning fame for its cinematic presentation, and Among Thieves is widely considered by many to be among the best video games of all time (including me). Alas, we finally have the Uncharted film adaptation we’ve waited over a decade for, and it’s, well, meh. Much of the plot turns, action set pieces, and dialogue is inspired by, if not directly taken from, the video game series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The film also pays fan service by sprinkling a handful of easter eggs (and a special cameo) throughout. All of this adds up to a moderately entertaining action adventure, but the best thrills are few and far between, and don’t measure up to the iconic gameplay.
Our hero is Nathan Drake, a professional treasure hunter, who claims to be a descendent of the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake. Honestly the idea of trying to provide a plot summary sounds exhausting. Needless to say, the trademarks of an Uncharted video game storyline are built into the script here: countless double-crossings, murderous villains, romantic alliances, and environments ready to break apart, explode, be climbed, jumped around, and ultimately action-ed the hell up, all while legendary treasure is being sought by multiple parties. These parties include Nathan Drake (Tom Holland), Victor Sullivan, a treasure-seeking friend of Drake’s lost older brother Sam (Mark Wahlberg), Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali), Sullivan’s dubious colleague, Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), an heir to a vast archeological company’s fortune who claims rights to the undiscovered Ferdinand Magellan’s gold, and Braddock (Tati Gabrielle), Moncada’s hired henchwoman. I’m exhausted. Aren’t you exhausted after reading all that?
Usually calling the aesthetic of a film’s action sequence “too much like a video game” is an insult. It’s hard to fault Uncharted for having a few set pieces that look like they’re pulled straight from the games, but then what’s the point of having a film? Add in a superfluous boring character backstory (get to the treasure hunting!), some flat humor-driven, urban-based plot set up (get to the treasure hunting!), and generic action adventure musical score, and you’re left with nothing worth the price of admission.
So, let’s briefly discuss Tom Holland. The actor has not minced words about his distaste for his own performance. That he’s toning it down in the film is apparent (muscle tone is way up, though!), and he delivers the Holland brand of a Spider-Man performance, complete with the voice cracks and youthful energy we’re used to from his work in the MCU. If you’re unfamiliar with the Nathan Drake character, Holland’s performance may be suitable for your enjoyment. Fans of the games, including myself, can’t help but balk at Holland’s small stature and pretty-boy demeanor. We lament that the time has come and gone for Nathan Fillion to be cast in the role. <<pours out a shot of whiskey>>
I predict that the audience most suited to enjoy Uncharted is the in-between crowd, the ones that know nothing of the video game series, and also don’t consider themselves cinephiles. Coming into Uncharted without any expectations (or foreknowledge) or fussiness about the art of cinema may make for a great time at the movies. But if that’s the case, why even call the movie Uncharted, or base it so closely on the video games? Oh, in case anyone is keeping score, Pokémon Detective Pikachu remains the best video game adaptation of all time… for now. Though Sonic 2 is coming!
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Uncharted opens today at Bay Area theaters.
