Uncharted could best be described as leftovers from both Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean. Both movies are referenced in not-so-subtle ways. The movie is goofy and preposterous and that might work to either its favor or detriment. It all depends on how willing you are to suspend your disbelief.
Tom Holland stars as Nathan Drake, a fortune hunter who works as a bartender/pickpocket. Years ago, Nathan’s brother, Sam vanished after their robbery of the Magellan expedition map went wrong.
Mark Wahlberg costars as Victor “Sully” Sullivan, another fortune hunter who worked with Sam and is still looking for the same treasure on the Magellan map. He tries to recruit Nathan to help him find it.
They team up with Sully’s associate Chloe (Sophia Ali) and the three begin a globe-trotting journey from Spain to the Philippines. Part of this subplot is just obligatory exposition and the other cheesy banter between the three.
Antonio Banderas costars as a corrupt billionaire who’s determined to find the lost treasure because his family laid claim to it during the days of Magellan and he’s the last descendant.
Of course, everything leads up to a one-on-one battle between our heroes and the mercenaries.
Based on the video game of the same name, Uncharted does have its moments where it’s bombastic both in terms of action and story, but I guess we should be grateful that the movie doesn’t choose to be as mind-numbing as it could’ve been.
As I said, it plays like a second-rate version of both Indiana Jones and Pirates, but it has some degree of imagination and it encourages itself to go right to the wall with its ludicrous plot.
I didn’t think this was a great movie, but I found the chemistry between Holland and Wahlberg believable enough, and despite the camp factor of the story being dialed up to 11 at times, I was often entertained by the way it’s put together.
Uncharted doesn’t fall into uncharted territory in terms of originality or leaving a lasting impression, but it is a goofy, Friday night movie that’s disposable entertainment.
Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for violence/action and language.)
