In writer-director Eli Roth ’s atrociously uninspired sci-fi fantasy escapade “Borderlands,” Claptrap, an acerbic droid voiced by Jack Black, calls to mind the humor of “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” the parody TV show in which a group of sentient robots comment on unintentionally risible B-movies. Black’s similarly acid quips — aimed at the story’s pack of misfit protagonists searching for “keys” to open an ancient trove of knowledge — are the only morsels of discernible entertainment in this stillborn adaptation of the first-person-shooter video game, tolerable only in brief instances. An insipid mishmash of trite genre tropes, “Borderlands” is devoid of any real edge.
At every turn it comes off desperate to tap into the corporate-approved cynicism that has helped “The Suicide Squad” and more recently “Deadpool & Wolverine” seem “cool . ” But with a PG-13 rating and some of the worst not-even-trying writing of any theatrically released production this year, “Borderlands” feels like an especially boring ride through a barren landscape. It goes from one destination to another, but there’s little excitement to be found on the road.
Despite the exposition that Lilith (Cate Blanchett), a planet-hopping bounty hunter, spills throughout the dull adventure, those unfamiliar with the source material still might find themselves confused about how this world operates. Roth and credited co-screenwriter Joe Crombie fail to effectively synthet.