![]() ![]() Added to that, it's never made clear why the alien invasion commences in a small town in the middle of Ohio with little to no strategic advantage. It also doesn't help that the computer-generated special effects, such as a massive tidal wave and a colossal explosion of an army base, look cheap and cartoonish. Never is there a sense of genuine danger or the possibility of failure, effortlessly defeating barriers that fail to excite, particularly during sequences when Cassie saves her brother from one disaster after another. In spite of that, what ultimately ruins 'The 5th Wave' is a surprising lack of tension after Cassie's long flashback sequence, and though Liev Schrieber and Maria Bello provide a formidable presence, the teens are never really confronted with daunting challenges and taxing obstacles. The story devolves into lameness as Monroe feigns interest for Robinson and Roe predictably is not who he seems, taking viewers into humdrum territory riddled with tedious hurdles.Īdmittedly, the original story by Rick Yancey is an intriguing tale that essentially combines Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers - and the subsequent big-screen adaptations - with John Milius's cult favorite ' Red Dawn' by film's end. Later, Alex Roe plays love-interest, dreamboat hottie Evan with the sort of cardboard stiffness and one-dimensional dullness expected of a boring love triangle plot device. Unfortunately, when Moretz is not involved, much of the film appears to suffer from melodrama and campy theatrics, such as the moment über-soldier Ringer (Maika Monroe) meets Ben Parish (Nick Robinson), Cassie's school crush. Other actors do well around her, and their portrayals seemed elevated in her presence. She takes control of a scene even when she's not the central figure of a conversation and confidently establishes herself as the moment's emotional core. She possesses a natural charisma and allure that has others gravitating towards her without much effort. ![]() It doesn't hurt that 19-year-old Moretz is also a joy to watch, delivering a convincing performance as a teen caught in the middle of a global catastrophe that impels her into adulthood if she wishes to survive. ![]() There's a fair amount of suspense and a sense of urgency speeding each scene along, nicely displaying Blakeson's talent behind the camera. This entire segment, taking about a quarter of the 112-minute runtime, makes for an engaging watch as it also features the first four of the five waves hinted at by the film's title. The story then momentarily switches to an extended flashback showing how events led to that particular moment, how a typical and average teenager went from protective sister and good daughter who's only worry was a school crush to a frightened survivalist that will kill if necessary. In the span of a couple minutes, Moretz's emotional 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan is confronted with a situation that basically surmises the plot's central dilemma when she kills a wounded stranger with bated breath because he might be an alien disguised as a human. That aforementioned opening thrusts audiences into the middle of the invasion after the fact, showing Chloë Grace Moretz fearfully running through the forest to a gas station food mart armed with an AR-15 rifle apparently too heavy for her to carry. And so, despite its visual pleasures, the sci-fi action thriller ultimately fails to provide any worthwhile surprises. But even Blakeson is limited by a prevailing, oh-so-familiar blueprint that offers little room for alteration and genuine creativity, essentially making any of the imaginative touches he designed with cinematographer Enrique Chediak moot. And for the most part, his particular brand and style is well showcased in this story about an alien invasion that puts humanity on the brink of extinction, making a good deal of this otherwise mind-numbingly plain production visually amusing. I hoped for better from J Blakeson, the British filmmaker who made quite the impression in 2009's ' The Disappearance of Alice Creed,' effectively marking this box-office disappointment as his American debut. After a highly promising and fairly captivating opening, 'The 5th Wave,' the latest adaptation of a popular YA series that spans three books, settles into a monotonous routine of predictability, following the usual collection of tropes and conventions that turn an easy piece of entertainment into a chore. ![]()
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