Inferno (2016)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Kahn, Ben Foster

Director: Ron Howard

Robert Langdon (Hanks) is at it again, that Harvard symbologist professor that keeps ending up in the middle of conspiracies that involve a race against time across Europe. This time he wakes up in an Italian hospital with a head injury that means that the reasons for him being there are vague, but he soon discovers that some very bad people are after him, and that he must follow obscure clues to stop the release of a disease that will wipe out half the worlds population, invented by an eco-terrorist (Foster).

It’s actually not a bad premise for a film. But it’s all rather crazy.

Langdon is aided by an ER doctor played by Felicity Jones in the most wooden performance of the year, and it seems like the two can barely stand each other. Who knew there was someone on the planet who didn’t have chemistry with Hank? And why is she British? It’s an Italian ER, is that common?

Littered with plot holes, and dialogue which could have been snappy but falls awfully flat, the film shines in it’s beautiful buildings and racing plot. It’s actually quite a fun watch, but you have to set aside a few thoughts, like how the lead characters carelessly handle precious objects, and the fact that the eco-terrorist actually makes some valid points about over crowding and population growth. That WHO seems to have it’s own army and an unlimited budget. How on Earth Jones got the job as Langdons sidekick. Things like that.

See It If: you want some light, fun entertainment with beautiful vistas, should also please Dan Brown fans.