Cate Blanchett stars as Lilith, a character from the popular video game series that has been adapted for the big screen. In this film, Lilith is a bounty hunter who gets an unexpected offer from Atlas, played by Edgar Ramirez, for a lucrative job. This leads to a humorous thought that perhaps Blanchett was compensated handsomely for taking on a role that seems beneath her considerable talent.
Lilith’s mission involves locating Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), the daughter of Atlas, who has been abducted by Roland (Kevin Hart), a soldier who has gone rogue, along with a character named Krieg (Florian Munteanu). Tina could hold the key to a legendary vault on Pandora, drawing the interest of various treasure hunters.
Upon returning to Pandora, Lilith encounters Claptrap, a robot voiced by Jack Black, intended to provide comic relief, although the film largely fails to deliver genuine humor. Familiar characters from the game, including Moxxi (Gina Gershon) and Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), also appear, along with minor roles for Scooter and Hammerlock that are easily missed.
The group of Lilith, Roland, Tannis, Claptrap, and Krieg is meant to echo the dynamics of a team like the Guardians of the Galaxy, yet the script, written by Roth and Joe Crombie, does little to give them unique characteristics. While Blanchett’s strong performance infuses some life into the lackluster screenplay, Hart often appears disengaged, possibly impacted by the extensive reshoots that delayed the film. Initially, the script was crafted by Craig Mazin, known for his acclaimed works on “Chernobyl” and “The Last of Us,” but he has since removed his name from the project following the changes in production. The film’s numerous challenges are evident, leaving viewers to ponder what a Mazin-led version might have achieved with more attention to world-building and character development.