The ‘Uncharted’ Film isn’t Supposed to be as Good as the Video Game and That Winds Up Being Okay

A big disclaimer here, but not really a surprise, is that I’m a huge Uncharted fan. So much so that I played every game in the series at least twice. Each game is a cinematic masterpiece so it was only a matter of time before it got the Hollywood treatment. And that time was now.

Tom Holland being cast as the lead Nathan Drake wasn’t what I expected and a horrible casting choice, mainly due to the fact that Holland doesn’t even look old enough to drink, nonetheless working in a bar as his character does in this film. 

The studio and filmmakers try explaining and setting up this movie to be sort of like a prequel to the Nathan Drake that we’ve all come to know. But from the get-go, it feels like they’re simply trying to capitalize on Holland’s Spider-Man stardom and not that he might have been the best man for the part. 

The second lead, Sully, was played by Mark Wahlberg, and another terrible casting choice going off of looks because he looks nothing like Sully. Marky Mark was simply being Marky Mark in this film and if you really had to use him, Wahlberg would have perhaps been better off playing Drake with another more seasoned gentleman filling in for Sully. 

Going into this film I really wasn’t expecting much because I couldn’t get past the casting. I really couldn’t. And the trailers didn’t look too great because of that. I just knew that the film would be terrible but something that I had to sit through and kind of see for myself being the film aficionado that I am, and in doing so something strange happened. 

I actually enjoyed the film.

Once you get past the casting and the age and unbelievable time jumps (via flashbacks that happen early on in the film) that still doesn’t age Holland appropriately (the poor guy just can’t grow any facial hair which would have helped here), the film becomes enjoyable although not particularly memorable.

But that’s okay.

The set pieces and globetrotting aspect of the Drake character have always made him a similar character to Indiana Jones and this film plays that up perhaps more than it should because instead of trying to create and establish a new identity for Drake, the film relies on a lot on old stereotypical tropes.

The main villain Jo Braddock (Tati Gabrielle) covered all of the bases when it comes to being the big bad and she had the look and swagger needed to help push the plot forward in a couple of key places in the story.

The locations are beautiful as you would expect if you ever played the game. 

I loved the chemistry between Holland and Wahlberg even though their relationship seemed forced and unbelievable in many instances. But they grow on you.

All in all, the film concludes with two end credit scenes all but ensuring us of a sequel. A sequel that is undoubtedly forced on us but yet somewhat pleasantly and surprisingly earned.