Of all the teen adventure movies this is arguably the least bad. In fact it is even verging on quite good. There are some hints at future revelations that suggest the next (final?) episode in the series might have a massive and stupid twist in it. Even if they were to realise my fears the story so far has already eclipsed Twilight, consumed the Hunger Games, driven straight through Divergent, ... I couldn't even be bothered to think of one of those for the horrible Golden Compass.
Fortunately they have changed the story so much from the books that spoilers from readers are unlikely, and as the producers have done such a good job so far I have to sort of trust them not to mess up the next step.
Back to just this instalment. The handful of survivors from the first film carry on their adventure straight from the end of the first movie. Thomas, Newt, Teresa and Minho are supported by the forgettable Winston and Frypan (maybe forgettable because he has grown about a foot in the supposed 20 minute flight from the end of first film). Then they are joined by Eris, who seems slightly conveniently to be a huge instant fan of Thomas and they try to escape their new location.
Minho continues to be the actual star performer of the team. He is still the strongest, fastest, smartest, carries more gear, fights harder and always has the best hair. Even when he gets struck by lightning, or more accurately knocked out by an explosion caused by that lightning, he just gets up and charges on.
Teresa continues to be obviously two-faced but this gives some added interest to the new love triangle with Tom and Brenda. Unfortunately Kaya Scoledario may look fantastic, but she still can't run, and apparently the director has noticed this time. When she is in short range running shots he has tried to minimise her screen time, and in the wider shots he subs in a stunt woman or CGI. It is probably covered up that no-one else will even notice but it bugged me so much in the first film I was watching for it this time round.
The 28-days zombies that are introduced as victims of the "flare" virus are cgi-ed in as well for the most part. They are way too much like the 'I am Legend' version, in terms of both speed and looks.
The new characters that come in all serve their purpose, either with roles to play in this film for Janson, Eris, Brenda (really, future sci-fi character called Brenda?) and Jorge or as obvious set-ups for major roles in the next film for Vince, Sonya, et al. The only real distraction is when Alan Tudyk turns up for an uncredited role. He is much too heavyweight an actor for the role he plays, unless he is being lined up for a major return later in the series.
Overall it is worth a watch if you liked the first one. And again I am going to score this one 7 out of 10.
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