Great performances in underperforming ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2’
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 finally completes the series. Now we can hold our collective breath while the Divergent films and the Maze Runner flicks drag to their conclusions and hopefully to the demise of the dystopian movie craze.
The sarcasm — no doubt — gives you a clue about how I feel about Mockingjay — Part 2. Few sci-fi flicks beat a good end of the world thriller like my favorites Mad Max, Blade Runner, The Matrix and The Omega Man. The dystopian crop doesn’t come close to being as interesting or as entertaining.
Like Mockingjay — Part 1, the conclusion is dragged out to the point of tedium. Of the four movies, only the second, Catching Fire, has any speed or energy.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Katness Everdeen sometimes reluctantly, sometimes determined, goes with an elite team as the rebels make a final push to defeat President Snow and the forces of Panem. Along the way, she has to help the brainwashed Peeta regain his senses. That leads to an eternal triangle love story. Who will Katness choose? Peeta or Gale?
That question is as big a yawner as the end of this dreary franchise.
A story too slowly told is not the fault of Lawrence and her all-star supporting cast. It lies with director Francis Lawrence, who did Part 1, and with writers Peter Craig and Danny Strong. They never get a handle on what could have been a good three hour movie.
Greed — which I suspect has been the case with several block buster franchises — turned it into two parts. It ruined the promise of the first two movies, and won’t leave you starving for more.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2
Director: Francis Lawrence
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright
Mr. Movie rating: 2 1/2 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes and violence. It’s playing at the Carmike 12, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
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 DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 1:13 PM with the headline "Great performances in underperforming ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2’."