Insurgent

Shailene Woodley and Theo James return as heroes Tris and Four in the second adaptation of Veronica Roth's futuristic novels, following 2014 hit Divergent. They're now fugitives on the run from oppressive leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), who is obsessed with hunting down the "Divergents" that threaten her regime. Despite Woodley's spirited lead performance, this sci-fi drama becomes bogged down by a plot that goes nowhere slowly. Much of the film is spent building towards a showdown that ultimately lacks impact, and the impressive visual effects don't help shake the feeling that we're just killing time until the next instalment. There are bright spots, particularly for Winslet's calculated villain, while new addition Naomi Watts fleshes out Four's back story. Sadly, numerous expository scenes and armed stand-offs dampen any enthusiasm as we wander towards the unsatisfying conclusion. Fans of the source material may still be eager for the next chapter but for casual viewers this is a disappointingly bland sequel.