Uncharted swings away from video game movie curse

Ruben Fleischer directs Tom Holland as he swings into his latest franchise with Uncharted from Sony Pictures. An adaptation of the same-titled best-selling video game franchise, Uncharted introduces us to street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) as seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago recruits him. 

What starts as a heist job for the duo, becomes a globetrotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. Moncada also has a team of relentless muscle led by Braddock (Tati Gabrielle) on his mission as well. On the other side, assisting Nate and Sully in their journey is Chloe (Sophia Ali), who is just as adventurous as the boys are.

If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.  

In 1993, Super Mario Bros. was the first feature-length live-action film based on a video game. The film received a lukewarm reception from both fans and critics. Since then, most video game to film adaptations have been hit or miss. Read on to find out my thoughts regarding the latest.

While I have never played any of the games in the franchise, one of the first things I want to commend scriptwriters Rafe Lee Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway on is the angle they take with the film. We get an excellent introduction to Nathan’s backstory with a concrete setup for his motivation. The domino effect that allows Sully and Drake to cross paths was believable as well.

Holland and Wahlberg tap into their standard character type of charm and everyman persona that the audience has come to know and love through the film’s duration. With a believable chemistry, Holland and Wahlberg are the heart of the film. Fleischer gives both men a chance to shine, whether it is throwing a punch or delivering a classic one-liner. 

Regarding the supporting cast, Tati Gabrielle and Sophia Ali, both bring a ton to the table, and I look forward to seeing them in more projects. To my surprise, the weakest performance in the supporting cast is Antonio Banderas, who hams it up in a performance that screams comic book caricature.

Featuring a fast pace, plenty of action, and enjoyable acting from its cast, Uncharted is an effortlessly delightful video game adaptation. 

Final Grade: B

Uncharted is in theaters now