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Last spring, Divergent introduced audiences to the latest series of popular young adult novels to hit theaters. And while it may not have been an instant, Hunger Games-sized hit, it left fans eager to catch up with its intrepid young heroes in the follow-up, Insurgent.
The second film in the dystopian franchise continues the story of Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley), who’s forced to go on the run with her boyfriend, Four (Theo James), after they’re accused of planning an attack on governing faction Abnegation.
Tris and Four travel from faction to faction—and even to the factionless—searching for allies. And as the threat of war continues to grow, Tris finds herself hunted by those who blame Divergents for the city’s unrest and haunted by her feelings of guilt over the deaths of those closest to her.
Divergent was already a thrilling adventure—but Insurgent takes the series to a darker, more sinister level. Several key plot points have been altered (or even entirely fabricated), but the effect remains the same. Kate Winslet’s villainous Jeanine will stop at nothing to control the Divergents and take charge of the city—and the steps that her followers take can be quite shocking.
As tensions build, the stakes rise for Tris and the others—which can make the story heavy and intense. In fact, if it weren’t for Miles Teller’s more lighthearted performance as the gleefully traitorous Peter, the tone might have felt almost oppressive. Yet, despite the war and death and strained relationships, the story somehow manages to avoid the tiresome teen moodiness often found in other young adult films.
Still, while Insurgent is dark and edgy and action-packed, the Divergent series continues to lack that special something to make it stand out. It has its share of romance, but it’s not hopelessly romantic (like Twilight). And though Woodley handles the action and drama of her role with impressive ease, she still isn’t as dynamic as Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games.
That’s not to say that Insurgent isn’t an enjoyable film. The characters’ journey through the factions creates a visually interesting backdrop for the story, while the action and suspense will have viewers holding their breath. And after the film comes to a close with revelations and new challenges, it’s sure to have viewers racing to bookstores to pick up a copy of the final book in the trilogy, eager to find out how it all ends.
Although fans of Veronica Roth’s novels may be understandably bothered by some of the changes in the story, the dark suspense and growing tension of Insurgent should make up for it. And while the series doesn’t have the same universal appeal of The Hunger Games, it’s still an adventure worth taking.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
