X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (D+)

Convoluted and misguidedly self-serious, X-Men: Apocalypse has brought to a screeching halt all the joyous and energetic momentum instilled by its two revamped predecessors (First Class, Days of Future of Past).  It’s a retro rehash of things we’ve all seen before…  The atmosphere is bleak, the message muddled and the overall tone is underwhelmingly uptight.  Credit where credit is due, however, Fassbender and McAvoy deliver nuanced performances that give the movie a modicum of weight. But even they struggle mightily to keep the film afloat under the overbearingly dull weight of Isaac’s mumbling, blue Smurf-like baddie (Apocalypse), Lawrence’s I’d-rather-be-anywhere-else-than-here, sleep walk attitude and an abundant shroud of misjudged steps in the writing, editing and directing departments.  Additionally, we’re introduced to a new moping mob of millennial mutants that collectively have the charisma of a wet paper sack.  Two stoic performances and a few solid action beat highlights aside – this is a bloated, confusing and virtually humorless affair.  The day my 11-year old son and I are both bored by a superhero movie is the same day I urge most people to skip said superhero movie.  Today is that day.  This X crew isn’t uncanny – they’re just uncommonly bland.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne and Oscar Isaac

Directed by: Bryan Singer (X-MEN, X2: X-MEN: UNITED, THE USUAL SUSPECTS and SUPERMAN RETURNS)

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 2hr. 16min.

Story: Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction. [20th Century Fox]

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