Video game film adaptations have had quite a rollercoaster ride over the past 20 years. While there has yet to be one adaptation I’d consider outstanding or an all-timer, there have been an exciting array of films worth noting. Starting with the “so bad it’s good” Super Mario Bros., a movie that made all gamers and cinephiles aware that Mario and Luigi’s last names were indeed Mario. Then there’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, a film that cemented its place as one of the worst films I’ve ever seen from the first time I saw it.
Despite that rough patch, the last few years have seen the quality of these films improve, and with one of my favorite video game franchises, Uncharted, on the horizon, I was optimistic a grand entry was near. While mostly entertaining, Uncharted is more “the greatest hits” than a faithful adaptation of the beloved franchise.
Uncharted tells the story of Nathan Drake and opens familiarly with the third entry in the video game franchise. We enter Nathan’s world as Nathan and his brother Sam are off on an adventure that ultimately leads to Sam disappearing from Nathan’s life. Fast forward 15 years, Nathan is a bartender getting by until he meets Victor “Sully” Sullivan. In their encounter, Sully lets Nathan know about his connection to his brother, which leads to a quest to find Ferdinand Magellan’s lost treasure.
To some, the film’s beats may feel familiar to Indiana Jones and National Treasure. However, Uncharted can stand on its own two feet with an origin story that allows its viewers to invest in the growth and development of Nathan Drake. While the third entry in the game franchise has sprinkles of prequel sprinkled through, Ruben Fleischer’s film dives deep into the origins of Drake, which allows those unfamiliar with the franchise to invest in Nathan and his ambition fully.
While the CGI is borderline cringe-worthy at times, the action set pieces are delightful. From the parkour chandelier sequence to the Cocktail bartending scenes that would put a smile on Tom Cruise’s face, the film carries a punch of entertainment for all. While those set pieces are entertaining, it’s the nod to the opening of one of the games with Nathan hanging on for dear life on falling cargo, and it’s the finale with two ships that stand out. This is where the mix of practical effects and CGI works best as it leads to the thrill ride of a finale that is sure to please the majority of cinephiles.
While Tom Holland was a controversial choice to some, I found it ideal casting for the direction Fleischer and his team were going in. Holland delivered a charismatic and emotional performance as Nathan Drake. Rather than embodying Drake’s grit and veteran mindset in the games, this version of Drake is still learning who he is and his motivations, which allows Holland to grow 100% into the Drake we all know and love.
When it came to the casting of Mark Wahlberg, I wasn’t a fan. Nothing about Wahlberg’s performance gives fans comfort that Sully will be a great mentor to Nathan. Sully is quite unlikeable and will have fans long for Nathan to go on his journey without the nuisance of Sully.
While Antonio Banderas and Tati Gabrielle understood their assignments, it’s quite a shame that Banderas was not given more to do other than play a villain. Instead, an Academy Award nominee was left to be a mustache-twirling villain that ultimately left me longing for more. Sophia Ali’s Chloe Frazer lays the cookie crumbs for a compelling character that is likely to be examined more if a sequel is green lit.
While Uncharted did not fully enter the stratosphere of greatness, the film allows cinephiles to escape and travel into the world of Nathan Drake and its beautiful locales. Uncharted doesn’t break new ground but is entertaining enough.
