Tomb Raider (2018) (Review)


It's reboot time! The first major re-introduction of 2018 is to the Tomb Raider franchise, with Alicia Vikander taking over Angelina Jolie's reigns as the iconic Lara Croft. Last seen in live action film form in 2003, Tomb Raider will hope to succeed where literally every other 'based on a video game' film' has failed; in being a success.

Tomb Raider follows Lara Croft's mission to find her father after his disappearance when she was only a child. Her search takes her to the uncharted island of Yamatai, where she discovers an expedition funded by a shadowy organisation which seeks to weaponise the powers of Himiko, a mythical ancient Japanese Queen said to command the power over life and death, currently imprisoned within a secret tomb on the island. Directed by Roar Uthaug and starring Dominic West, Walton Goggins and Daniel Wu alongside Vikander, the Warner Bros tentpole hopes to have launched the reboot on sturdy ground to continue building the franchise from; has it managed to?

It is Alicia Vikander who single-handedly elevates Tomb Raider. She's fantastic, as is to be expected from the Oscar-winner, with a gnarly performance that embodies the confidence, skill, vulnerability and humanity of Lara Croft. Not only does she handle the action sequences superbly, Vikander brings a grit and realism to her portrayal of the heroine, executing the emotion of crucial moments fantastically. It's incredibly well-balanced and rendered and this interpretation of the character is one I would love to see again. Her supporting cast are fine but continually overshadowed by her charismatic turn.

It's just a shame that everything surrounding Vikander is so mediocre. Even for a 'bare bones' origin story - something Hollywood rarely succeeds at - there is a lot to be desired from Tomb Raider; it is very formulaic and predictable in its execution and narrative, lacking a spark of originality that could have encouraged it to excel. Writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons fail to provide their heroine with anything to really sink her teeth into and it unfolds in a disappointingly obligatory manner. It rather reminded me of a cross between The Mummy (2017) and Inferno (2016) improved by and benefitting from a lead as magnetic as Vikander. Plus, if I could just take the time to boast -- I saw that final twist coming from the minute the main player stepped onto screen. The whole thing is rather unsurprising really.

Uthaug's direction is functional and injects some excitement into Tomb Runner; the CGI is mainly fine - not at all groundbreaking but sufficient enough - while the set pieces are slick and stylish enough to zip between. At a shade under two hours, it is not long enough to grow tired of but could easily be tightened for effect. While the connectivity tissue is unfortunately mechanical and lacklustre, the visuals are solid enough to withstand the narrative deficiencies. With an impressive score from Junkie XL too, there's a grand feel about Tomb Raider that helps widen its scope and you are able to see a franchise that could have some legs, should they manage to overcome the obvious flaws from the first.

Tomb Raider doesn't deserve a Lara Croft as terrific as Vikander but it is exactly what you expected it to be: a serviceable, frothy, popcorn flick, watchable but hardly inspiring. It cannot unshackle itself from the 'video game adaptation' curse, mainly because of a uninspired screenplay that follows every rule in the book. Not as bad as your feared but not as good as you hoped, you will still find some enjoyment in Tomb Raider while wishing, deep down, for more. Maybe next time, Ms. Vikander's Croft, they'll give you a film worthy of your time.

★★★★★★☆☆
(6/10)

Summary: Formulaic and flimsy but fairly fun, Tomb Raider never earns a Lara Croft as great as Alicia Vikander but it's watchable and serviceable enough; should a sequel come to pass, I'll be there (only for Vikander, mind).