Watch it if you absolutely have to.
Film: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Dir: Wes Ball
Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Patricia Clarkson, Aiden Gillen
Rating: **1/2
What's it about:
Thomas and the boys (and girl) he rescued in the first film from the maze make it out and are accosted by another group that purports to save them from WCKD, but instead keeps them in a secure facility. But, as always, Thomas finds a reason to not let lying dogs lie - or really find peace with his situation. Worried that more may be happening than meets the eye, and not entirely surprised that he's been right about it. He then proceeds to get his gang out (Theresa included) along with some new names and make it out of said facility and into the Scorch. The outside world is in a state of decay and deterioration and zombie-like humans walk the earth. There are very few 'normal people' around and they are few and far between. They run into Jorge and Brenda, who come under attack from WKCD and its security head Janson. They move on further to try and find the 'resistance' who live in the mountains. Will they reach in time? And how many perish before that? Will there be a happily ever after? Or just a third instalment?
What's hot:
The from-frying pan-into-the-fire idea may have sounded brilliant at one point. And it does have its highs. Take a group that's notorious for its survival skills, band them together and have them go cross-country, split up, have adventures, fend off zombies (called cranks here), while getting from point A to relatively safer point B. By that measure, this seems less like an in-betweener than an actual film. It's a good thing the film thinks like a big franchise and tries to crank it up (pun intended) a notch.
What's not:
Familiarity continues to breed contempt thanks to questionable casting choices. They're good, no doubt, this supporting cast, but really comes off as if the makers almost didn't have enough faith in their product. The post-apocalyptic idea has been done to death at this point as is the zombie virus outbreak angle or the doctor-doing-it-for-a-good-cause part. You wonder why this couldn't have been dealt with differently. The climax scene and a further revelation is worth the price of admission, but really, there's a lot that happens before you get there. It's a pity the proceedings weren't kept as tight as the first film. There are several lags between high points.
What to do:
Watch it if you absolutely have to or loved the first film. It's bigger than the first film, though not entirely better. And that's a shame!
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 "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials")
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