Borderlands: A Fun But Bumpy Ride

Borderlands is based on the role-playing first-person shooter game that first came out in 2009 and spawned several sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. The film hones in on one character of the possible four to play: Lilith (Cate Blanchett), a rough-around-the-edges bounty hunter. Lilith is a lone wolf and likes it that way. Still, when she gets roped into finding the powerful Atlas’ (Edgar Ramírez) feral daughter, Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), she’s forced to team up with an unexpected ragtag team that includes an elite mercenary named Roland (Kevin Hart), a masked psycho named Krieg (Florian Munteanu), an obnoxious robot named Claptrap (Jack Black), and a brilliant, yet socially awkward scientist from her past named Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis).

This dysfunctional group must travel across Lilith’s home planet of Pandora (a place she absolutely despises), collecting keys to open up a mysterious vault (a mission she despises even more) — all while trying not to be killed by power-hungry bandits and menacing alien creatures. Throughout the increasingly whacky and dangerous treasure-hunt/slash-wild-goose-chase, the group discovers surprising secrets about their pasts, destinies, and each other.

The cast of Borderlands is an embarrassment of riches — there’s no question about that. It includes some of the most bankable talent in Hollywood, not to mention several Oscar winners. Unfortunately, this mostly works to the film’s detriment rather than contributes to its success, as it’s simply too cramped for any one character to get the time and development they need to be wholly compelling.

The film suffers when it comes to pacing, too. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have a movie sit well under two hours — something the majority of films these days don’t seem to do — but the speed at which plotlines get resolved feels rushed instead of efficient, the breakneck pace sacrificing clarity and much-needed tension and stakes. There are a few effective twists and surprises, but a great number of plotlines can be seen coming from a mile away, whether you’re familiar with the game or not. This isn’t an inherently bad thing, but this film’s very theme is that it’s about the journey and not the destination, and Borderlands doesn’t give you nearly enough time to settle in and enjoy the ride.

Borderlands is ultimately a fun if flawed and rather unmemorable summer blockbuster. It’s just disappointing that the source material has so much more to offer in terms of its layered characters and complicated themes of trauma and survival that the film seems either uninterested in or incapable of tapping into.

Borderlands comes to theaters in the U.S. starting August 9. Click below for showtimes near you.

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Conclusion:
While Borderlands has its moments, it ultimately falls short of its potential due to a bloated cast and rushed pacing. Fans of the game may find some enjoyment, but newcomers may struggle to connect with the characters and story.

FAQs:
* Is Borderlands based on the video game?
Yes, the film is based on the popular role-playing first-person shooter game.
* Who stars in the film?
The film features an ensemble cast, including Ariana Greenblatt, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Cate Blanchett.
* What is the plot of the film?
The film follows Lilith, a bounty hunter, as she teams up with a ragtag group of characters to collect keys and open a mysterious vault on the planet Pandora.
* Is Borderlands worth watching?
While the film has some fun moments, it ultimately falls short of its potential due to a bloated cast and rushed pacing. Fans of the game may find some enjoyment, but newcomers may struggle to connect with the characters and story.