Gluck directs a witty, pop culture-savvy teen comedy powered by a smart, literate script & fueled by Stone’s dynamic performance. Crafted using DNA from John Hughes’ oeuvre, this The Scarlet Letter-inspired film makes a charming complement to another perceptive, intelligent teen flick, 10 Things I Hate About You. A seasoned supporting cast, notably old pros Church, Clarkson & Tucci, also serve up tasty performances.
Collins’s own screenplay jettisons significant plotlines, characters & the fine details of District 12’s hardscrabble life that give Katniss’s heartbreaking struggle such solemnity. Instead, this CliffsNotes’ adaptation sprints to the two major set pieces, the Capitol & the games. Even so, Lawrence’s riveting performance imbues the film w/what’s missing…the novel’s anguish & sorrow, as well as its humanity & hope.
