- Film Review
- Reviewed By Dave Aldridge
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2 out of 5
Young leads Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) and Harry Treadaway (Control) shine among the established talent of Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Martin Landau in this flawed but watchable post-apocalypse fantasy. Based on the first book in Jeanne DuPrau's bestselling trilogy, the story is set some 200 years after an unspecified disaster has driven underground the few surviving remnants of mankind. Despite the positive spin put out by its leader, Mayor Cole (Murray), the subterranean city is in crisis and its power source is failing. Lina Mayfleet (Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Treadaway) believe that the outside world holds the key to their survival, but must first piece together clues left by the city's founding fathers. The second film from Monster House director Gil Kenan is brimming with ideas but is hampered by a plodding storyline, an uneven tone and below-par visual effects. Yet its ambitions are to be admired and go some way in making up for the movie's occasional failings.
Plot Summary
Fantasy adventure starring Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway and Bill Murray, based on a best-selling children's book. Graduating classmates Lina and Doon embark on a quest to prevent a cataclysmic power outage in a world where humanity has retreated underground.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Lina Mayfleet
- Saoirse Ronan
- Doon Harrow
- Harry Treadaway
- Mayor Cole
- Bill Murray
- Loris Harrow
- Tim Robbins
- Sul
- Martin Landau
- Barton Snode
- Toby Jones
- Mrs Murdo
- Mary Kay Place
- Clary
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste
- Looper
- Mackenzie Crook
- Granny
- Liz Smith
Crew
- Director
- Gil Kenan
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