This week at the movies…escape via a sci-fi dystopia or with the Muppets on an international caper.
Divergent
A low-rent Hunger Games starring Shailene Woodley who is doing her best dark-blonde, strong warrior princess Katniss imitation in this sci-fi thriller that also stars Kate Winslet as the big, bad authoritarian leader. Based on a bestseller by Veronica Roth, a dystopian novel essentially about conformity, the inhabitants are divided into factions based on personality attributes. Those who don’t fit the mold are considered “divergent,” which Woodley is believed to be but must hide that fact from the leaders, or else risk being ostracized from society.
Perfect For: Hunger Games fans and fans of sci-fi. Because of the romantic subplot, it’s more appropriate for slightly older kids.
What the Critics Say: They aren’t very impressed with this Hunger Games lite flick. Writes USA Today: “Ironically for a film about non-conformity, it adheres to the playbook rather slavishly.”
Our Take: If they still showed movies on airplanes, Divergent would be a perfect diversion.
Muppets Most Wanted
Jason Segal revived the Muppets a few years back with a cute, yet somewhat tepid first outing. However, for the sequel, in which Kermit’s identity is stolen by a nearly identical frog named Constantine who is the world’s greatest criminal. The switcheroo lands Kermie in some vaguely Eastern European jail cell lorded over by an evil Tina Fey, and Constantine enjoying the spoils of Kermit’s life (including, dare we say, Miss Piggy). Stacked with celebrities, including Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Ray Liotta, P. Diddy, and Christoph Waltz among many others, to make it even more fun.
Perfect For: Everyone. If you don’t love the Muppets, you don’t have a soul.
What the Critics Say: They give it a solid B. Writes the Newark Star-Ledger: “If you don't love the chipper Kermit, the self-involved Miss Piggy, the sweetly foggy Fozzie—not to mention the hard-to-explain Beaker, Animal and the Great Gonzo - well, please, sit over there. I don't think I quite trust you.”
Our Take: Totally going. Are you kidding?
