Uncharted

As a fan of this video game franchise, that’s not to say that I’m insulted. There’s much to appreciate about Fleischer’s use of the classic airplane wreckage scene from Uncharted 3 or the found pirate treasure from Uncharted 4– though they are vastly different in their own rights. But it is insulting to think that homage, easter eggs, and nods to the source material were sufficient to tell a good story. There are too many presumptions the script expects audiences to know.

The casting of our main leads is partly to blame for that as well. Viewers are supposed to believe that Nathan Drake is a young, street-smart thief who brings his wits to the big treasure-finding dance. But it’s hard to accept these characteristics when Uncharted neglects to ease us onto this stage. The pickpocketing is certainly there, but his wisdom and ability to greatly handle himself in a fight are more unbelievable. Moments when Holland must emphasize these parts come in like a ton of wet bricks, no matter how charming he tries to be. His performance simply came and went. The marks and bruises left on this fan’s heart were simply not worth it.

“…what is lacking in the script is made up in the action sequences…”

Opposite of Holland’s Nate is none other than Wahlberg’s Sully. Miscast can’t possibly highlight my disdain for this choice, but here we are. Nothing Wahlberg does on screen gave me reason to believe that he was made for this role. It takes a special kind of performance to make even the most enthralling scenes seem dull. But Wahlberg managed quite nicely. Unfortunately for fans of the beloved Sully character, a sequel is simply not worth it.

Ultimately, Uncharted could’ve made for a good sequel to a great origin story that doesn’t exist. A missed opportunity doesn’t quite explain what the film will be for broader audiences beyond the built-in fanbase. I will say this, though: what is lacking in the script is made up in the action sequences and scene compositions thanks to Fleischer’s vision. Though the main cast struggles to overcome the limitations of the screenplay, their banter and playfulness are enough to make me willing to sit through another installment of this potential franchise. Let’s just hope the screenwriters dig deep on borrowing from the source material next time.