‘Uncharted’: A Nostalgic Adventure Tale That Delivers

PG-13 | 1h 56m | Action, Adventure | 2022
Gamers rejoice! That’s the first thing that came to mind after watching “Uncharted,” the inaugural film in a burgeoning franchise. Sony Pictures has already announced a sequel in June 2024.
As someone familiar with video game-to-film adaptations, we’ve endured the universally despised “Assassin’s Creed” (2016) and the disappointing “Tomb Raider” films: “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001) and “Tomb Raider” (2018).
“Uncharted” not only captures the fun-filled adventure vibes of 1980s and 1990s classics like the Indiana Jones series, “Romancing the Stone” (1984), and “Jumanji” (1995), but it also stays true to the spirit of the video games.
Interestingly, the film kicks off with a riveting action sequence set later in the story. We see the principal protagonist, Nathan Drake (Tom Holland), dangling precariously out of the back of a cargo plane. His foot is caught on a cargo container strap, leaving him vulnerable as a couple of dastardly-looking thugs try to shoot him while he scrambles to get back into the plane.
The narrative then flashes back to Nathan’s childhood, where we find a young Nathan (Tiernan Jones) living in a Boston orphanage with his brother Sam (Rudy Pankow). The two precocious boys have a knack for getting into trouble. After a particularly daring escapade involving breaking into a museum, Sam is forced to leave the orphanage to avoid further consequences. Before disappearing into the night, Sam makes a heartfelt promise to his younger brother: “I’ll come back for ya, Nate. Promise.”
Fast forward several years, and Nathan, now a young man, has settled into life in New York City, working as a bartender at a swanky restaurant. One evening, a man named Victor Sullivan (Mark Walberg) spots Nathan stealthily stealing a woman’s bracelet.
Impressed by Nathan’s skills, Victor, a treasure hunter with a penchant for seeking valuables, offers Nathan a position as his partner. However, Victor makes it clear that Nathan will only receive a small percentage of any found treasure.
For all the video game purists out there, yes, there are quite a few differences between the video games and this film. For one, Holland and Wahlberg don’t have the same years-old relationship as they did in the games. The actors look nothing like the digital counterparts.
However, being familiar with the games myself, this didn’t detract from the movie at all. If anything, it allowed the film to keep a brisk, engaging pace instead of getting bogged down in lengthy, yawn-inducing character exposition. The film maintains a sense of mystery, with shifting alliances that keep viewers on their toes.
Sony Pictures did a good job overall with casting. Holland and Wahlberg share an easy-to-like chemistry, exchanging snappy dialogue and wisecracks. Banderas is also entertaining as one of the main villains, who believes the treasure belongs to him by birthright, as his ancestor funded the original Magellan expedition.
If there’s a weak link, it’s Tati Gabrielle as Jo Braddock, the supposed head of Moncada’s army of thugs. Gabrielle’s portrayal of a tough mercenary leader rings false, especially when she’s supposed to be commanding respect from legions of formidable male underlings.
Action movies often stretch believability, and “Uncharted” is no exception, featuring over-the-top action sequences presented with tongue-in-cheek flair. Tom Holland’s performance as Nathan, with his parkour-inspired fighting style, is impressive, though some stunts are clearly enhanced by CGI. Given that the film is based on a video game, these elements enhance rather than detract from the experience.
Overall, “Uncharted” successfully captures the puzzle-solving and swashbuckling spirit of its video game source material while harking back to nostalgic action-adventure cinema. It delivers a satisfying experience with positive messages about familial love, friendship, trust, and overcoming adversity through teamwork.