Uncharted movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Uncharted

This buddy criminal movie is exclusively in movie theaters on February 18, 2022

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 56 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (played by Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (played by Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (played by Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.

The fun adventure heist is based on the Playstation video game UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection – PlayStation 5. In fact, it’s the first feature film of Sony Playstation Productions. I’ve never played the game myself and so I’m reviewing the movie as a stand-alone film. I had no expectations, but recognize that fans of the game most definitely will, so their reactions may be different from mine. Rumor has it that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4) is Tom Holland’s favorite game in the series.

THINGS I LIKED:

I love both Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, so I got a kick out of seeing them together. They have good chemistry, which made for some entertaining banter about each other’s ages, skillsets, and motivations.
Antonio Banderas tested positive for Covid during filming and had to leave the production for a short time while he recovered. It’s always good to see him.
Great opening scene! Tom Holland said it was the hardest action sequence he has ever filmed.
Plenty of adventures and clues to figure out on this treasure hunt. If you love puzzles, riddles, and deciphering ciphers, you’ll enjoy this high-octane quest.
There are also a lot of fun action sequences with impressive and creative stunts that made me laugh a few times.
Good special effects and set designs.
The movie ends with a taste of a sequel, something I’d like to see. Mark Wahlberg only signed a one-film contract, so hopefully, he’ll change his mind if this first installment does well.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The villains are underdeveloped but they serve their purpose.
It’s extremely predictable, following all of the cliched tropes of this genre.
The trailers got mixed reviews, just like the film itself so far.
Video game movie adaptations are always a bit problematic because of the fans’ expectations and the common lack of truly understanding the source material. I’ve heard some gamers explain that the story in the movie is a let-down from those who love the game.
The set designs LOOK like set designs.