[Nerdspresso] Borderlands Provides Popcorn-Munching Fun

The time between early July and mid-August is commonly known as the “dog days of summer.” It’s named the dog days because Sirius, the dog star, rises in the morning sky during this time. Not that Sirius has anything to do with the summer heat, but its rising was seen by the ancient Egyptians as a harbinger for this season’s hot, humid weather. So now you know that the “dog days” moniker comes from astronomy and not because we feel sluggish like an old dog sleeping on the front porch. Who knew?

The dog days of summer always signify for me the final days of the season. It’s often when vacations are wrapping up and people start to focus on their kids going back to school. It’s like everyone is moving a little slower, tired from all the summer hubbub and exhausted from the oppressive heat. During this time, you need something to take your mind off the sultry temps. Is there really a better reason to escape into the cool dark embrace of your local movie house?

August is also when Hollywood drops movies that maybe wouldn’t have held up well against the blockbusters released in early to mid-summer. This isn’t always a bad thing. Movies like Buckaroo Banzai and Stand By Me were released in late summer and they’re considered classics. Not every movie premiering in late July/early August achieves iconic status, but many arrive to satisfy audiences looking for a respite from the dog days. Borderlands is such a movie.

Based on the best-selling video game series of the same name, Borderlands is a dystopian sci-fi action flick in the style of Mad Max. Directed by Eli Roth, who honed his chops on horror flicks like Cabin Fever, Hostel, and Green Inferno, this movie takes us on a chaotic quest across the rough-and-tumble world of Pandora. A bounty hunter named Lilith (Cate Blanchett of Lord of the Rings) is on the hunt for the precocious Tiny Tina (played by Ariana Greenblat of Barbie). She was kidnapped by Roland (Kevin Hart from Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel), a deserter from the private army of a nefarious corporate magnate who is also Tina’s father.

Upon finding them, Lilith learns that Tina was cloned from Eridian DNA and could help unlock a treasure trove of ancient secrets. The Eridians were a highly advanced civilization who seeded the galaxy eons earlier before they disappeared. Legend has it that they locked away the sum of their knowledge and all their technological riches on Pandora. This vault can only be opened by a true “daughter of Eridia.” Lilith joins Roland and Tina so they can locate the vault before the corporate drones intercede.

Along the way, they pick up an eccentric xenoarchaeologist (played by Jamie Lee Curtis of Halloween, True Lies and Freaky Friday) and a talkative robot named Claptrap (hilariously voiced by Jack Black from School of Rock and the Kung Fu Panda movies). This motley band of misfits tussles with savages, renegades, and Tina’s dad’s heavily armed minions. Borderlands has a pretty brisk pace, which is not great for plot or character development, but it keeps things moving. This one was not designed to be thought-provoking. Just enjoy the ride.

While it’s far from a classic, Borderlands can be a nice little vacation from your summer doldrums. It reminds me quite a bit of an old sci-fi movie called Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, which played on HBO about three times a day back in the mid-’80’s. It has the same zip and charm as that flick, embracing its B-movie roots with retro futurist junkyard sets and a game cast. This entire crew seems to be up for all the shenanigans with a camaraderie reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy. Blanchett is clearly the star, but everyone seems thrilled to be part of this ensemble.

Blanchett is taking a break from Oscar bait to cut loose and have a little fun with her role as Lilith. Previously, she tried her hand with popcorn fare in Ocean’s Eight and Thor: Ragnarok, but she was not front and center in those flicks. She carries the movie here and makes a serviceable action hero. However, she can’t hide her highbrow sheen so evident in her more prestigious roles. Watching Blanchett executing stunts in bounty hunter garb is like seeing a bride chowing down on BBQ ribs while wearing her wedding gown. She’s entertaining, but something seems just a little off.

Borderlands is fast and a little sloppy, but it gets the job done. If you’re familiar with the videogame series, most of the story is cribbed from the first two installments and it also seems heavily influenced by Guardians of the Galaxy and other films where a ragtag team makes good. You can see the movie’s climatic surprise coming from a mile away, but it’s still satisfying when it plays out. There’s something comforting about this movie’s familiar beats. It delivers on your expectations. And really, that’s all you need it to do.