Review: Inferno Isn't As Fiery As It Wants To Be
- Aug 19, 2018
- 2 min read
Third time lucky. Third time's the charm Not this time around.
Doctor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes in an Italian hospital, sporting a nasty head-wound, mild amnesia and apocalyptic visions. Unable to recall how he got from Boston to Florence, nor what events occured over the past few days, he finds himself on the run when a would-be assassin, disguised as a police officer makes an attempt on his life. Accompanied by his doctor, Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), Langdon must remember his past and attempt to prevent the release of a plague created by the manic Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster).
In my review of Angels And Demons I said it was better than The Da Vinci Code I said that it improved in two ways, the pace of the film, and the scale of the plot. It is in these that Inferno struggles. While the rate at which events unfold is rapid, the way in which they portrayed does not infer urgency, a situation aided little with a plot that, despite concerning the whole of the world, doesn’t play its hand until the last third of the film, leaving the viewer confused as to the what, why and when. While this is not an inherently bad thing, indeed slow moving films that unfold over a long period of time can be enjoyable, but the tend to establish the stakes from the beginning, with the mystery being involved in the uncovering of those behind the plot. This time around however, we get none of that, and it leaves things feeling somewhat dull. It’s a very small problem that rapidly tumbles out of control.
On the more positive side, Hanks is again enjoyable to watch, totally selling his confusion and drive to discover. His visions are also great, vivid and terrifying, looking more like something out of a horror movie than any cryptological thriller. There’s a late game twist as well, one that comes out of left field but surprisingly works, for the most part. It’s hindered by the previously mentioned plot issues, and a less than stellar delivery by walking cardboard cutout Felicity Jones, who fails to compel across the entirety of the film.
As its credits roll, Inferno stands as, well, mostly watchable. It’s not half as enjoyable as the first two films, and the plot isn’t overly engaging, but there are certainly worse things to watch, and a decent climax makes it ultimately worthwhile. Nothing special, but nothing awful either.
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