After all the production and distribution delays, I’ll admit to going into Chaos Walking with some trepidation. And some hope since, hey, maybe it’ll surprise me? Alas… it did not. It wasn’t a disaster but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a little too plodding and pedestrian.

It’s a decently interesting idea at least. A new Earth colony on a far flung world has had some kind of societal breakdown due, in part, to the planet (somehow – hand waving required) imparting psychic powers on its residence. Their thought emit from their hands in sound and color, sometimes imagery, and sometimes without their control. Our hero – played by Tom Holland – doesn’t have great control… and when he stumbles upon a space girl (played by Daisy Ridley) – a newly arrived colonist whose ship has crashed – he has to help her from the angry townsfolk while keeping his chaotic mind under control.

This film is… it’s ok, I guess. I think it flounders a bit and has a hard time finding a narrative groove that moves with purpose and excitement. The connection between Holland and Ridley really doesn’t work due to some cringe, unfunny, unclever dialog… they are trying too hard to make them work. The action scenes are ok, I suppose, and they do manage to pull off a few interesting tricks. But I ultimately found myself distracted and wishing the film would hurry up and get moving.

Not a disaster, I suppose… it has enough decent moments and actors to keep it from the bottom of the pile. But I was hoping for more… perhaps a good old fashioned Hollywood twist ending where the bad press was turned on its head by a surprise masterpiece. Nope… not this movie, not this time.

Score: 72