The newly released Uncharted film takes viewers on a globe-trotting adventure with a young and somewhat innocent Nathan Drake. Unlike the Drake from Naughty Dog’s games, Tom Holland’s version of the treasure hunter is making his way through the world by working in a bar and pickpocketing his customers. That all changes, however, when he meets Mark Wahlberg’s Victor “Sully” Sullivan, who reveals he knows Nate’s older brother Sam. After forming a somewhat rocky alliance, the duo then set off together in search of Magellan’s treasure. But this being Uncharted, there are of course others who are also after the treasure, and what ensues is a frantic race for the gold.
So, before I get into it, let’s quickly address the elephant from the room: Uncharted is a video game adaptation. These have always been a bit of a weak point throughout cinema’s history. They never really manage to hit the sweet spot that their game counterparts do so well. Be this because of poor pacing, some awkward dialogue, or a director’s desire to suddenly take a massive U-turn away from the source material, they just never seem to deliver the goods.
And a lot of these points do still remain true with Sony’s recent reimagining of Uncharted. Several outlets have lamented the fact that Tom Holland’s charm soaked talents have been wasted on a “tedious” video game adaptation, with Empire saying, “scenes start to feel like cutscenes that you wish you could skip”.
I get all that. I do. But you know what? This time, for me anyway, it really didn’t matter. I really enjoyed Uncharted, and not simply because I am a huge fan of the games. I just really appreciated the film for what it was.
And what exactly is that?
Well, it’s simple. While Uncharted will not be winning any Oscars outside of hair and make-up – and those Oscars count and should be included in the main ceremony! – one thing it certainly is? Uncharted is fun.
It’s good, old-fashioned, rip-roaring fun. And that is just what I needed it to be.
Throughout Uncharted’s not quite two hour run time, there are over-the-top set pieces, physics defying stunts, cheesy one-liners (including an homage to Uncharted 3’s “Well, well, well” pun) and gorgeous sun-drenched backdrops. I found a story of humour, friendship and family. But that’s not all. On the flip side, there is deceit, there is peril and there is suspense.
All in all, it is a package deal, and a great bit of easy escapism for a cold, dreary night.
Seeing Uncharted’s heroes soaring through the skies, skimming across the waves and crawling about in underground tunnels brought me a sense of adventure. And, let’s be honest, after the years that we have all had lately, a sense of adventure is something I am sure many others have been missing as well.
All of this means that, when Nathan Drake finally came across the missing treasure of Magellan, I felt quite emotional. But I was emotional in the best possible way.
With the tumultuous times we are currently living through, watching Drake reach his goal gave me a much-needed feeling of hope and optimism. I found myself smiling at the screen, even though it was already pretty clear what was about to happen (I mean, they even showed it in the film’s trailers, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise).
None of which is to say that I don’t see the problems with the film that many others have.
The father/son relationship between Drake and Sully that was so endearing in the games is a little clunky in the film. Wahlberg’s version of the character can be a tad more ‘bullish’ than Naughty Dog’s cigar loving ladies’ man. There is also a distinct lack of Richard McGonagale’s booming Sully vocals, but I don’t think anyone would manage to get those other than McGonagale himself, so I suppose that can be allowed to slide.