The Mummy (2017)

User Review

• 

  TheMovieDiorama

  6 / 10

  The Mummy is a remake of a remake and the attempted start to a franchise. Universal are calling it the "Dark Universe". This got destroyed by critics, some calling it "Tom Cruise's worst film", to which I say: "did you watch Knight & Day?". I'm not claiming this to be a masterpiece or even great, it's just good but I was completely enthralled and I never got bored. Tom Cruise yet again shines, this time as a treasure hunter (sort of) who comes across the tomb of a cursed princess who is now our titular villainess. I thought he was great, very charismatic and he does what he does best...a whole lot of running! Sofia Boutella was majestic as The Mummy, beautiful yet manipulative. Russell Crowe portrays Dr. Jekyll which is the link to the newly branded Dark Universe. There was some good tidbits like vampires, the creature from the black lagoon and more...was a nice touch. Annabelle Wallis was fine but Jake Johnson was just bad...literally irritating and shouting every line. The action set pieces were well crafted and had me throughly entertained. The story was functional yet basic, but so was the original and the 1999 remake. I also liked the horror elements, there were some creepy moments that definitely heightened the experience. But therein lies the problem. The tone is completely inconsistent, one minute they're running away for their lives and then the next they're cracking jokes and then the next they're scared to death. Way too many attempts at multiple genres. I can only blame the screenplay (which was written by multiple writers), it's unfortunately a mess. The wit and jokes fell flat most of the time, they should've just stuck with the adventure elements. However as a first chapter to a new cinematic universe, I thought this delivered (only just...). It's entertaining, full of mystery and moves along at a nice quick pace. It does not deserve the amount of hate that it has got...but something tells me it might not be the film people are hating on...

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