Saoirse Ronan’s work in The Lovely Bones and Atonement put her on the radar of producers.
The kid can act. But there aren’t many parts for teenagers other than high school teen angst crap. So when a project comes along that at least has challenges, it must be grabbed.
-- Local show times, theaters, trailer.
In this case, the challenge is 90 percent physical. The other 10 percent is finding ways to make the character of Hanna interesting enough for you to want to bother.
Hanna is a teenager raised inside the Arctic Circle. Trained in the art of combat by her demanding father, Hanna has come of age. She longs for something more than life on the always frozen tundra and constant combat with dad.
Finally considered ready, Hanna’s assignment is to kill her creator, an evil female operative from a CIA-like organization. You quickly learn that Hanna was genetically engineered to be the perfect assassin. For Hanna and her father to be free forever, they need to be free of her.
Ronan is outstanding in the role. So is the villain of the piece, Cate Blanchett. While not together on the screen until the end, both are pitch-perfect playing cat and mouse. Sadly, the plot wastes two fine performances.
Hanna quickly devolves into a yawner. She deliberately gets captured and fails to kill you-know-who. Then she goes on the run. Hanna connects with her first teenage friend. She’s vacationing with her family. The girl’s parents buy that Hanna is a young teen allowed by her dad to wander the world alone.
Yeah, right.
Hanna makes her first best friend, almost enjoys her first kiss and — of course — puts everyone in mortal danger. But she’s never in danger because you-know-she’s-not-going-to-get-caught-until-the-climax. The newfound friend and her family aren’t a worry because they’re not that likable and you don’t connect to them. You also never worry about Daddy either. He’s loose in the world waiting to reunite with his daughter.
So there you have it. Chase, chase, chase. No tension, no surprises. No fun.
Mr. Movie rating: 3 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, violence. It opens Friday, April 8 at the Carmike 12 and the Fairchild Cinemas 12.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
