Like all recent cinematic video game adaptations, I know precisely nothing about the source material for Roar Uthaug's Tomb Raider. I never saw the Angelina Jolie movies, nor did I ever play the most recent game (or any of the games for that matter). But unlike, say, Assassin's Creed or Warcraft, there really isn't much you need to know about Lara Croft or the Tomb Raider universe. The whole thing is basically a riff on Indiana Jones- intrepid, extremely intelligent explorer finds herself in a myriad of spectacular adventures with death-defying, supernatural consequences. I can't speak for the other versions of Tomb Raider, but this film in particular feels like a combination of every Indiana Jones movie, excluding the dreaded Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. There's the swashbuckling, MacGuffin-driven narrative of Raiders, the "Save the villagers" subplot of Temple of Doom, and the parental drama of The Last Crusade, all combined into a single 118 minute package.
Lara puts all the pieces together, finding a video from Richard that explains his last quest. You see, Lord Croft was more than just a businessman- he was a sharp archaeologist and an Indiana Jones-like explorer in his own day. His last adventure saw him searching for the tomb of a Japanese queen, who spread death wherever she went. He desperately needed to keep the contents of the tomb out of the wrong hands, so he embarked on a dangerous, maybe even suicidal journey to save the day. With this information, Lara decides that she simply has to travel to Japan to find her father. She teams up with Lu Ren (Daniel Wu), whose father traveled with Lord Croft on his journey through the Devil's Sea. After they reach the island, Lara and Lu Ren find themselves in the company of Mathias Vogel (Walton Goggins), who has been searching for the tomb for nearly a decade. Vogel is connected to Trinity, an organization that hopes to use ancient artifacts to start global chaos. But he'll have to take down Lara first, who proves that she's more than willing to fight back and save the day.
Tomb Raider is a rare case of execution triumphing over ambition. There's nothing inherently extraordinary about this film, which tells a familiar story in a relatively straight-forward way. Neither director Roar Uthaug nor screenwriters Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Alistair Siddons seem to care much about reinventing the wheel or shaking up the formula. This is merely a throwback adventure film, with a few spectacular setpieces thrown in to justify its "event movie" status. But in a way, the blunt effectiveness of Tomb Raider is its greatest asset. There are no delusions of grandeur to be found here, no gimmicky world-building, not even the slightest hint of a forced "epic" feeling- it's just a relatively clever, engaging bit of popcorn-munching fun.
Does this mean the film essentially evaporates from your brain after the credits roll? Of course it does. Despite its efficiency, the familiar approach means that there's little to remember about this saga of mythological fear and family drama. There's a sense of distance that I consistently felt as an audience member- even as I was engaged and recognized the precision of the story beats, I was never able to give myself over to the film. In addition, some of the action scenes feel a tad too elaborate, coming into conflict with the grounded, gritty approach (though this is a film with mummies and curses, so I don't know if "grounded" really applies).
But for all of the inconsistencies that make Tomb Raider a mostly forgettable viewing experience, there are more than enough surface-level pleasures to distract from the flaws. Alicia Vikander, already an Oscar-winning actress at the age of 29, is simply outstanding, carrying this movie without ever making a wrong move. She's fierce, determined, and relentlessly charismatic as Lara, hitting the emotional notes while simultaneously capturing the physicality of the character. The non-stop action in Tomb Raider is almost overwhelming, but Vikander's natural movie star poise is a major part of the film's enduring appeal. Beyond the star performance, director Uthaug, best known for 2015's The Wave, also proves to be a strong director and storyteller, moving the narrative smoothly from one setpiece to the next. The action is intricate and sharp, often sacrificing bombast in favor of low-key innovation and tension, which provides a nice, subtle contrast from what we usually see in this type of blockbuster.
Tomb Raider is thoroughly a meat-and-potatoes action movie, and there's admittedly little that will nourish viewers from a thematic perspective. Nonetheless, this reboot more than makes up for its lack of substance with sheer, old-fashioned entertainment value, blending a functional narrative with classic thrills to great effect. Tomb Raider is an exceedingly entertaining journey, benefiting from low expectations and exceptionally sharp execution of its basic concept. Excellent action, brisk pacing, moving emotional beats, a compelling star turn- despite its disposable nature, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy Tomb Raider.
THE FINAL GRADE: B (7/10)
Images courtesy of Warner Bros.
And you know what? It all works surprisingly well. Sure, Tomb Raider is far from a memorable movie, and it never even approaches the relentless glee of its Spielbergian influences. Even with all the special effects and outrageous setpieces (throw physics out the window in this one, folks) that come with a large budget, Tomb Raider is strictly a B-level affair. And yet, it achieves a kind of propulsive energy that keeps it from ever slumping into tedium, alternating between preposterous action and intriguing mystery with ease. The presence of Alicia Vikander is also a net positive- the Oscar-winning star has charisma to spare, carrying the movie with a mixture of adventurous spirit and guarded emotion. Even as it defies logic and reason, Tomb Raider ends up being a rather satisfying, consistently entertaining ride, overcoming its disposable nature to serve as a solid diversion.
Lara Croft (Vikander) is the direct heir to the Croft family fortune, but she refuses to sign the papers to receive a dime of it. Why? Well, she doesn't know if her father, Lord Richard Croft (Dominic West), is actually dead. So instead of taking the family money, Lara spends her days delivering food and doing intensive workouts, losing boxing matches and trying to win elaborate bike races. After a run-in with the law, Croft family liaison Ana Miller (Kristin Scott Thomas) implores Lara to sign the papers and put this tragic business behind her. Lara reluctantly agrees, but during the estate meeting, she gets her hands on a special puzzle. Much to her surprise, the puzzle contains a clue that could help in uncovering the truth behind her father's disappearance.
Lara puts all the pieces together, finding a video from Richard that explains his last quest. You see, Lord Croft was more than just a businessman- he was a sharp archaeologist and an Indiana Jones-like explorer in his own day. His last adventure saw him searching for the tomb of a Japanese queen, who spread death wherever she went. He desperately needed to keep the contents of the tomb out of the wrong hands, so he embarked on a dangerous, maybe even suicidal journey to save the day. With this information, Lara decides that she simply has to travel to Japan to find her father. She teams up with Lu Ren (Daniel Wu), whose father traveled with Lord Croft on his journey through the Devil's Sea. After they reach the island, Lara and Lu Ren find themselves in the company of Mathias Vogel (Walton Goggins), who has been searching for the tomb for nearly a decade. Vogel is connected to Trinity, an organization that hopes to use ancient artifacts to start global chaos. But he'll have to take down Lara first, who proves that she's more than willing to fight back and save the day.
Tomb Raider is a rare case of execution triumphing over ambition. There's nothing inherently extraordinary about this film, which tells a familiar story in a relatively straight-forward way. Neither director Roar Uthaug nor screenwriters Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Alistair Siddons seem to care much about reinventing the wheel or shaking up the formula. This is merely a throwback adventure film, with a few spectacular setpieces thrown in to justify its "event movie" status. But in a way, the blunt effectiveness of Tomb Raider is its greatest asset. There are no delusions of grandeur to be found here, no gimmicky world-building, not even the slightest hint of a forced "epic" feeling- it's just a relatively clever, engaging bit of popcorn-munching fun.
Does this mean the film essentially evaporates from your brain after the credits roll? Of course it does. Despite its efficiency, the familiar approach means that there's little to remember about this saga of mythological fear and family drama. There's a sense of distance that I consistently felt as an audience member- even as I was engaged and recognized the precision of the story beats, I was never able to give myself over to the film. In addition, some of the action scenes feel a tad too elaborate, coming into conflict with the grounded, gritty approach (though this is a film with mummies and curses, so I don't know if "grounded" really applies).
But for all of the inconsistencies that make Tomb Raider a mostly forgettable viewing experience, there are more than enough surface-level pleasures to distract from the flaws. Alicia Vikander, already an Oscar-winning actress at the age of 29, is simply outstanding, carrying this movie without ever making a wrong move. She's fierce, determined, and relentlessly charismatic as Lara, hitting the emotional notes while simultaneously capturing the physicality of the character. The non-stop action in Tomb Raider is almost overwhelming, but Vikander's natural movie star poise is a major part of the film's enduring appeal. Beyond the star performance, director Uthaug, best known for 2015's The Wave, also proves to be a strong director and storyteller, moving the narrative smoothly from one setpiece to the next. The action is intricate and sharp, often sacrificing bombast in favor of low-key innovation and tension, which provides a nice, subtle contrast from what we usually see in this type of blockbuster.
Tomb Raider is thoroughly a meat-and-potatoes action movie, and there's admittedly little that will nourish viewers from a thematic perspective. Nonetheless, this reboot more than makes up for its lack of substance with sheer, old-fashioned entertainment value, blending a functional narrative with classic thrills to great effect. Tomb Raider is an exceedingly entertaining journey, benefiting from low expectations and exceptionally sharp execution of its basic concept. Excellent action, brisk pacing, moving emotional beats, a compelling star turn- despite its disposable nature, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy Tomb Raider.
THE FINAL GRADE: B (7/10)
Images courtesy of Warner Bros.
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