KSL Movie Show review: ‘Borderlands’ is a futuristic sci-fi action comedy, but kind of a dud

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SALT LAKE CITY — You’d think I’d learn after a number of years reviewing movies, that when a studio does not screen a film in advance for critics, that’s usually not a good sign.  More specifically, it means the film is probably a dud.  Now, that’s not always the case, but when 90 percent of them turn out to be awful, it’s a good bet it’s bad. 

Not bucking that trend is “Borderlands” – a futuristic sci-fi action comedy (and I use all those words loosely) that’s based on a video game series (that probably should have stayed that way). 

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An infamous bounty hunter Lilith (Cate Blanchett – yes – THAT Cate Blanchett) is hired by a super rich corporate guy named Atlas (Edgar Ramírez) to find and return his daughter who has allegedly been kidnapped by a former Atlas soldier called Roland (a serious Kevin Hart).  The last time anyone saw Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt) was on this garbage dump of a planet Pandora, a place Lilith is very familiar with (and hates, by the way).

But the money is good, so she agrees to go and in the process teams up with a wise-cracking robot Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), a strongman Krieg (Florian Munteanu) and a  researcher Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis).  She also quickly learns that Tina is actually running away from her father, with the help of the previously mentioned Roland. 

The reason dear ol’ dad wants her back is because she might literally be the key to finding and opening an ancient vault, left behind by an advanced alien race called the Eridians. 

Endless power, knowledge and riches await the finder and opener of this mysterious “vault.” So there’s a lot of interest, with “vault hunters” galore invading the dire landscape in search of wealth, fame and glory.

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That’s pretty much the set-up. The rest is a massive amount of gunplay, bomb tossing, monster bursting and psycho slaying – you know – like a video game. It wants to play out like a “Mad Max” saga, mixed in with some “Suicide Squad,” a dash of “Starship Troopers” and a hint of “Guardians of the Galaxy” – while actually approximating none of those films.

The only thing that snuggles anywhere close to entertaining is the gun-slinging performance of two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett who appears to be having some fun.

That’s pretty much it. I’m not even sure game devotees will like this, since I’m told the movie sort of goes off on its own.

Some of my colleague movie critics claimed that last week’s offering of “Trap” was the worst film of the year. I think they spoke a week too soon.

BORDERLANDS (C-) Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some suggestive material. Starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Edgar Ramírez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt and the voice of Jack Black. Co-written and directed by Eli Roth (“Thanksgiving” “Death Wish”) – filmed in Budapest, Hungary. Running time: 102 minutes.  

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.