Uncharted

           

          Based on a video game (which I have never played or even seen), this action, adventure story is in the mold of a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "National Treasure". While not quite living up to the standards of those iconic films, it does have its moments and relies heavily on the charms of its two stars to carry the film.

         The film stars Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg and there is great chemistry between the "old and new school" action heroes. Mr. Wahlberg is "Sully" a thief with a plan to seek out a fortune of gold lost during the original Magellan expedition. He enlists the aid of Nathan Drake (Mr. Holland) who along with his older brother, Sam,  had tried to steal the map of the expedition years earlier. Already a success as "Spider-man", Mr. Holland has now set himself up to be the next generation Hollywood action star.

          Following the various clues, the film takes us from New York, to Barcelona, and to the Philippines as the two fortune seekers try to complete the puzzle and locate the treasure.  The film opens in the middle of an elaborate action sequence but stops short to take us into a flashback. It is only later that we return to the sequence to see how it unfolded and how it plays out. Since it is the most exciting sequence in the film, director Rueben Fleischer gets the most out of it by showing it twice. There is also an exciting, but totally unbelievable climax that just can't be described.

          Co-starring are Antonio Banderas and Tati Gabrielle as villains also in search of the treasure and Sophia Ali as a slippery colleague of Sully's who may or may not be trusted.  Steven Waddington is a villainous henchman known only as "The Scotsman" who exists for the sole purpose of comic relief as no one can understand his Scottish accent.

          The film follows a tried-and-true formula that is dull in parts but it is the great charm of Mr. Holland and reliability of Mr. Wahlberg that still makes it a fun but brainless watch. There are two post credits sequences that leave the door open for the inevitable sequel.