National Treasure by way of Fast and the Furious, videotaped over a copy of Indiana Jones and Goonies. Is it dumb? Simpler than a block of cheese. But it is better than one might have anticipated, in that it mostly understands what it is, plays into it, and embraces its stupid fun. I expected a cinematic crime - with its quality inversely related to its massive success - but I only found myself hanging from the wreckage of a ridiculous but inoffensive nonsense treasure ship.
I have never played a second of Uncharted, but have to assume this is following some semblance of the characters and the story. They certainly try to embrace the videogame aesthetic and I think even encounter the voice actor from the game. Much like such a game, the characters can do whatever is necessary. Holland’s Nathan Drake is a tragic orphan, an encyclopedia of ancient treasure knowledge, a semi-master thief, a top notch problem solver, parquort expert, and Cocktail extra. At least my threshold was minimal and was aided by Wahlberg’s salty meathead dickbag mentor, which he played to admirably. He’s a dumb-jock Danny Pond (not Ocean), but they sprinkle in enough humor to keep him lively.
It’s silly and bombastic, but it rides its stupidity like a sled down a DaVinci Code bunny slope to a goofy smirk. Not good, but it also wasn’t atrocious.
