Now, I have to admit that I’ve never played any of the “uncharted” videogames and therefore went into this with very low expectations.
Honestly, outside of the main characters’ on-screen chemistry, there’s nothing too special about this flick.
The storyline is weak and doesn’t have enough meat to it.
Not to mention, the twist near the end is lackluster.
Uncharted is an action-adventure film directed by Ruben Fleischer with a screenplay by Rafe Lee Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway.
Based on Naughty Dog’s video game series of the same name, it stars Tom Holland as Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as his mentor Victor Sullivan, with Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, Tiernan Jones, Rudy Pankow, and Antonio Banderas in supporting roles.
The film is 116 minutes long and rated PG-13 for violence/action and language.
Young Nathan (Jones) and Sam Drake (Pankow) are caught by security for trying to steal the first world map made after the Magellan expedition from a museum.
Because this is Sam’s third strike, the orphanage that houses both boys is kicking Sam out and forcing him to stay elsewhere, away from Nate.
Nate goes to their room and catches Sam sneaking out to be on his own, but he promises his little brother that he will return for him.
Sam leaves him with a ring belonging to their ancestor Sir Francis Drake, with the inscription “Sic Parvis Magna” (“Greatness from small beginnings”).
Fifteen years later, Nathan (Holland) works as a bartender and pickpockets wealthy patrons.
Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Wahlberg), a fortune hunter who worked with Sam tracking treasure hidden by the Magellan crew, explains to Nathan that Sam vanished after helping him steal Juan Sebastian Elcano’s diary.
Nathan, who has several postcards Sam sent him over the years, agrees to help Sully to find his brother.
Sully and Nathan go to an elite auction to steal a golden cross that’s linked to the Magellan crew.
There, the pair encounter Santiago Moncada (Banderas), the last descendant of the Moncada family (who funded the original expedition), and Jo Braddock (Gabrielle), leader of mercenaries hired by Moncada.
Nathan is ambushed by Braddock’s men, and the ensuing fight creates a distraction for Sully (disguised as an auction attendant) to steal the cross.
After the theft, the duo travel to Barcelona, where the treasure is supposedly hidden, and rendezvous with Sully’s contact Chloe Frazer (Ali), who has another cross.
Chloe steals the first cross from Nathan, but after a chase and clever dialogue from Nathan, they convince her to work with them.
Meanwhile, Moncada confronts his father, Armando, upon learning the family fortune is being donated and throws a tantrum after Armando states his son is not worthy of the inheritance.
Later, Moncada sets a trap for his father where he orders Braddock to kill him.
Nathan, Chloe, and Sully follow clues in Elcano’s diary to Santa Maria del Pi, finding a secret crypt behind an altar that leads to the catacombs.
The pathway in the catacombs leads to an underground club and Braddock’s men close on their heels.
Nathan and Chloe enter and find a trap door out of the club.
In the secret room, they find another door but as they open it, the crypt floods with water.
Sully barely manages to help them escape after subduing an ambush by Braddock.
Using the two crosses to unlock a secret passage, Nathan and Chloe find a map that indicates the treasure is in the Philippines.
Chloe betrays Nathan (having originally been hired by Moncada) and takes the map.
From there, the events are woefully predictable, but Nathan and Sully’s witty banter keeps the laughs coming.
Overall, it’s mildly entertaining, but I’d wait for the movie to hid Redbox or streaming platforms if you’re not a fan of the games.
