'The Maze Runner' A Review

The Maze Runner is a young-adult post-apocalyptic action-thriller based on the novel of the same name. Thomas awakens in a mental cage hurtling up a shaft. When he reaches the top he is pulled from the cage by a group of young men into his new home The Glade, a small field and community in the center of an impenetrable Maze. Thomas enters into the precarious balance of The Glade where everyone follows the rules and has their specific task. But Thomas seems different, curious, and when he ventures into The Maze things start to happen.

With more grit, edge, and darkness than other YA adaptations The Maze Runner starts and maintains a frenetic pace. There is violence and there is loss. And the maze stands as the physical and psychological mystery of the movie. The boys verging on manhood are trapped, but with the curiosity and ingenuity of Thomas the mystery of the maze and their circumstances begin to unravel. There is action and danger and creepy robot spider hybrids. There is no love story, Teresa is introduced about half way through the film but doesn't have much to do, it is a relief the movie doesn't divert into romance but it would be nice if she had a purpose.

The performances are decent. Nothing astounding, nothing terrible. They all service the narrative which feels like a hodgepodge of many many stories that have gone before it(Lord of the Flies, Hunger Games, Theseus and the Minotaur etc.) but is fresh enough to be entertaining.

The ending is the great detractor. It shoehorns an apocalypse, seemingly a requirement for this type of movie, into the third act expositional reveal and blatantly sets up a sequel sacrificing much if not all of the emotional and narrative integrity that proceeded it.

Original enough to hold interest, disappointing as the beginning of yet another over-produced and over-hyped YA distopian trilogy.

Rent It.