Divergent certainly makes the viewer feel its 139-minutes running time, to the point where one wonders if the film will ever actually get to some kind of ending (which of course it does eventually if somewhat breathlessly). Set one hundred years after a future war in a recognisable but ruined Chicago (with some well-integrated CG work), the division of society into five stereotypical personality factions to maintain order is a naïve and ridiculously dumb concept to start with, but the problem is compounded by saddling it to a somewhat unchallenging and bluntly-written narrative which would surely make even tweenagers think twice. It is delivered with a similar sombre monotone that derailed last year's dreary YA adaptation The Host, but Divergent has the occasional lively moment to raise flagging interest. It also lacks anything truly unique, drawing on everything from The Hunger Games to Ender's Game and even Harry Potter. Performances are adequate across the board but generally muted, and the only real surprise is a splendid score by - of all people - Junkie XL. Clearly designed as a book/movie trilogy, Divergent does a reasonable job of world-building, but as a potential movie franchise a sequel would need to offer something considerably more fresh and raise its game from this tepid first offering.
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