Uncharted Review: A Cheesy, Self-Indulgent Rollercoaster Ride

thegamer.com:

Uncharted shouldn’t work. From all the trailers it appeared to be a mismatched retread of the games’ finer moments with miscast actors who poorly represent so many characters we’ve come to love over the years. It felt like an easy blockbuster win riding on Tom Holland’s starpower than a film with any redeeming qualities.

While it is far from perfect and falls flat on a number of occasions, this version of Uncharted remains a swashbuckling adventure that I couldn’t help but crack a smile at. Many of its emotional moments border on the contrived and some casting decisions still confound me, but when Uncharted hopes to channel the spirit of its video game inspirations it manages to soar far more often than it falls.

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This adaptation is a bespoke retelling of Drake’s Deception and A Thief’s End, combining facets of Naughty Dog’s beloved games while seeking to weave its own tale that takes these characters to new and unexpected places. The opening scene features a tearful farewell between Nathan and Sam Drake, a sibling relationship that is continually alluded to throughout the film as a source of tension between Nate and Sully. The conclusion is achingly predictable, but it was in the games, and the same energy is channeled here.

Fast-forward 15 years and Nate is working as a scheming bartender in New York City. On the surface he’s a charming twink capable of chatting up the ladies, but behind that pretty face sits a thief who isn’t afraid to snatch jewellery and sell it on for a quick profit. He’s catching small fish, but a lifelong fascination with history means the adventurer inside him is always begging to break free. Then along comes Mark