A programmer of a different sort, but just as “The Gunman” goes through the motions except for some alive performances, the same can (kind-of) be said of “Insurgent” and really the whole “Divergent” series which is struggling to distinguish itself in the young adult adaptations department. It’s lively enough that you won’t fall asleep, but you also won’t remember much of it the next day. Even now, I’m having a hard time zeroing in on specific scenes or aspects to talk about.
What Works: Shailene Woodley once again makes Tris an engaging protagonist, a rebel who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, angry, intelligent, and empathetic all in the same scene. Zoe Kravitz is also a great presence in a supporting role. And Kate Winslett and Naomi Watts always make things interesting in their too-brief scenes.
What Doesn’t: Like its more successful cousin “The Hunger Games,” the Divergent series’ Achilles Heal is the men in the franchise. Katniss’ love triangle is never interesting because of how bland her choices are, and even though Theo James is a more commanding actor, his character remains indistinct. Plus, truly talented actors like Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller are largely wasted in supporting roles.
What I Would Have Done Differently: There’s just something a little “ehhh” about this series, and maybe it goes all the way to the books (I wouldn’t know), but something just always feels strangely muted. “Insurgent” is a pleasing, soothing movie, but I’m not sure “soothing” is really what a young adult actioner about a rebellion is going for.