The
best words to describe “The Divergent Series: Insurgent”, the second in
the movie series, is ‘too much of everything’. There are too many
special effects, too loud and annoying a soundtrack, too many actors
playing one not roles, though doing the most they can with them, too
much gratuitous violence uncalled for, too much that doesn’t make sense
unless you have seen the first film, not to forget 2-3 scenes too many
of the heroine tearing up.

I fell ‘in love’ with Shailene Woodley
in “The Fault In Our Stars”. She looked great and did a good job of
acting as she does in this film and still has those big, shining,
expressive eyes, which director Robert Schwentke fills with tears too
often. As an action star and/or love interest she is always worth
watching. Ansel Elgort, her lover in “Stars”, is her brother in this
film while Theo James has taken over the role of  her boyfriend. In a
role, offering the only humor in the movie, Miles Teller, who was
excellent in “Whiplash”, continues good work here.

The adults
such as villainous Jeanine, played by Kate Winslet, Johanna, the leader
of a feel good, what looks like a commune, living group, acted by
Octavia Spencer, the parents of Woodley’s character Tris Prior, Ashley
Judd and Tony Goldwyn, along with another Leader played by Daniel Dae
Kim and, sure to play a more prominent role in the next series of the
film, Naomi Watts as Evelyn. Jai Courtney, an Australian actor I am not
familiar with, did an impressive job as Eric.

Schwentke, the
director, and screenwriters Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman and Mark
Bomback seem to reach for violence, special effects and Woodley on the
verge of crying to bother making a better, more compact movie.

If
you haven’t seen the first movie in this series, or read the book, the
first half of “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” may be confusing. Come
to think of it if you haven’t seen the first film, I didn’t, don’t
bother seeing this one.
TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMCpFRrs1Ps