Early critical response to Eli Roth's Borderlands movie adaptation is overwhelmingly negative, despite a star-studded cast. While the actors' performances have received some praise, the film's overall execution is facing harsh criticism. Let's delve into the initial reactions.
A Critical Mauling: More Miss Than Hit?
Critics are panning Borderlands, citing weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a poorly developed script. Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews deemed it a "complete mess," lacking genuine emotional depth and relying on dated, ineffective jokes. Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it a "baffling video game adaptation," highlighting the squandered potential for world-building due to a rushed and uninspired screenplay. While the set design impressed, poor CGI detracted from the overall visual quality.
A Few Glimmering Positives Amidst the Negativity
Not all reviews were entirely scathing. Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances were enjoyable and prevented the film from being a complete disaster, although he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a more positive, albeit qualified, assessment, describing it as a "fun PG-13 action movie" heavily reliant on Blanchett's star power for its success.
The film, re-announced in 2020 after a period of inactivity, features a cast including Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap. The story follows Lilith's quest to find Atlas's missing daughter on Pandora.
With major publications set to release their reviews soon, audiences will have the opportunity to form their own opinions when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game, offering a potential bright spot for fans of the franchise.
