That’s it. Last one out of the Capitol, be sure to turn out the lights. The saga of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and the revolution she started with her victory in the 74th Hunger Games ends with a serialized finale that probably should have been one pared-down film. Director Francis Lawrence has handled the last three films, taking over after Gary Ross’ book report of a first film, with admirable success. None have been awful, though the cinematic Hunger Games fails to engender a level of excitement comparable to Suzanne Collins’ excellent YA+ novels.
For those rock dwellers unfamiliar with the franchise, Katniss Everdeen was a teenager living in the destitute District 12 of a fictional country named Panem. Each year, the Capitol, steeped in luxury, takes two kids from the subjugated districts and forces them to fight to the death in a booby-trapped arena. After winning alongside Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in the 74th and escaping at the conclusion of the Quarter Quell, Katniss has become the face of the revolution against President Snow (Donald Sutherland, in full-on Cheshire Cat mode).
As Mockingjay—Part 1 ended in medias res, Part 2 jarringly opens on an escaped Katniss struggling to deal with a brainwashed Peeta, a jealous Gale (the other Hemsworth, Liam) and several adults, President Coin (Julianne Moore) and former head gamesmaker Plutarch Heavensbee (the sadly deceased Philip Seymour Hoffman), with ideas about how to use the Mockingjay. Naturally, headstrong Katniss has other ideas and wants to end the revolution against Snow on her terms. First, she must navigate the heavily protected streets of the Capitol and the even more dangerous political minefield laid before her by Snow and Coin. Also, will she choose Peeta or Gale?
The oft-criticized and underrated second novel provided the series’ best movie thanks to the energizing presence of director Lawrence. His Mockingjays are fine, as well, but the entire franchise has lost a lot of its creative steam thanks to the plethora of Hunger Games wannabes like Divergent and The Maze Runner. It is hard to keep your dystopias-being-saved-by-mopey-teenagers straight. And though The Hunger Games was first and best, the movie franchise has failed to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. If anything, it has fallen back amongst the rest.
None of these criticisms are to say Mockingjay 2 is a bad blockbuster. It is not. But it does not thrill nor inspire the imagination like its source material. The franchise has been well taken care of but has not grown into its creative own like the latter Harry Potters were able to do thanks to innovative filmmakers and great casting. Lawrence has not been the right choice for Katniss since the first movie. She comes off as too old and mature for the teenaged protagonist. In Mockingjay, she feels the equal of the movie’s adults. The tension that should exist from their management of this heroic teen falls flat, as she never feels properly manipulated by them. Also, Katniss may be a reluctant revolutionary hero, but as played by Lawrence, it is inexplicable why she ever inspired the downtrodden at all.
But who am I kidding? The whole world is going to see this movie no matter what. Disappointment is doubtful, though it is hard to see how any of these films would encourage a fandom that will last much beyond its two-hour-plus running time. Pretty soon, Katniss and Divergent’s Tris will both be gone. Good luck remembering who was whom, unless you also read the books.
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