Movie Review: 'Insurgent' Starring Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley
All about this action-packed sequel.
— -- Starring Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley Rated PG-13
Three-and-a-half out of five stars
I’m happy to report "Insurgent" is significantly more tolerable and entertaining than its predecessor, last year’s "Divergent."
A brief primer: 200 years from now, Chicago seems to be the only city left in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world in which people are divided into five factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Amity and Candor. Those who could fit into any faction are known as Divergents. As far as Jeanine (Kate Winslet) is concerned, Divergents are capable of throwing society into chaos. She, by the way, is an Erudite -- the supposedly intelligent faction -- and is the head of the council, sort of making her a dictator. Her plan is to destroy Divergents and have Erudite run everything.
Standing in her way is Shailene Woodley’s Tris, who’s a Divergent. But you probably already knew that.
"Insurgent" is about Tris overcoming the deaths of her mother and father, defeating Jeanine, and saving future Chicago so it can be a place where all factions, including Divergents, can get along. And also, maybe, Tris can live happily ever after with her boyfriend, Four (Theo James). It’s like hoping you can get rid of the school bully so everybody can get along and you can marry your boyfriend after you graduate.
Apparently, only a teenager can save the world -- just like "The Hunger Games" and every other movie Hollywood churns out that’s based on a popular series of young adult novels. The best thing about the "Divergent" movies is the actress they picked to play that teen. Woodley is soulful, with eyes full of life and depth. Helping her in "Insurgent" is her real-life buddy, Miles Teller. His Peter was just a jerk in "Divergent." Here, he’s given more to do and serves, very well, as the comic relief.
The action, although predictable, is bigger and bolder here than in the first movie. Throw in Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer as Amity leader Johanna, along with returning Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, who’s perfect as the conniving, calculating Jeanine, and "Insurgent" goes from a ridiculous premise to a story with some gravitas.