Early critical reaction to Eli Roth's Borderlands movie adaptation is overwhelmingly negative, despite a star-studded cast. While some praise the performances, particularly Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart, the consensus points to significant flaws. Let's delve into the initial reviews and what audiences can expect.

A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power

Critics are largely unimpressed. The film's humor is deemed stale, the CGI subpar, and the screenplay uninspired. Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews described it as a "complete mess," lacking genuine emotional depth and relying on dated jokes. Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it a "baffling video game adaptation," highlighting the wasted potential of its world-building due to a rushed and weak script, despite impressive set design.

However, not all reviews are entirely damning. Kurt Morrison noted Blanchett and Hart's enjoyable performances, suggesting they prevent the film from being a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, calling it a "fun PG-13 action movie" that relies heavily on Blanchett's star power to succeed – a task she reportedly accomplishes.

Despite skepticism from fans of the game, the film boasts a strong cast including Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap. The plot follows Lilith's return to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter, embarking on a dangerous quest with her unlikely companions.

With full reviews from major publications imminent, and the film's theatrical release on August 9th fast approaching, audiences will soon have the opportunity to form their own opinions. Meanwhile, Gearbox has teased the possibility of a new Borderlands game.