I have to begin this review by pointing out that I haven't read any of the books in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. This review is based on the film alone and the information that the film provides.
With that said, I found Divergent to be very entertaining, if a little lacking in the world building department. The film takes place in Chicago, some time in the future. Wars and other disasters have apparently torn the United States apart and those who live in the crumbling city built a wall to keep scary things out. They've also built walls around each other: society is divided into factions based on dominant personality traits: Erudite, Candor, Amity, Dauntless, and Self-abnegation. The roles of each faction are based on their talents--so Candor serve as judges and lawyers, Dauntless as police and protectors, Self-abnegation and governmental leaders (since they're selfless and less corruptible). When teenagers turn 16 they take a test that reveals their aptitude and which faction they should join. Despite test results, they have the freedom to choose any faction they wish to be part of, but once the choice is made they cannot change their minds and pick another faction.
Tris (played by the lovely and talented Shailene Woodley), was born into Self-abnegation. When she takes the test, the results are inconclusive--she tests "positive" for dauntless, erudite, and self-abnegation and is thus "divergent". Being divergent is a big problem. It's the equivalent for testing positive for psychopathy in our society--divergents are seen as freaks, unstable, and uncontrollable. The mistrust of divergents is growing by the time Tris takes her test due to political tensions between Erudite and Self-abnegation. Erudite feels that *they* should be running the government, so they are talking shit about Self-abnegation and trying to smear the faction by claiming they are harboring divergents. So Tris must hide her true identity at all costs--even from family and friends.
When Tris chooses Dauntless at the Choosing Ceremony, she is put through a hellish boot camp of physical and mental training for her role as a protector of society. It's not enough to simply choose Dauntless--new members must complete a series of tests to prove their worthiness, and there are a limited number of spots. If you don't make the cut, you are kicked out and end up "factionless" and on the fringes of society.
Tris' story is compelling and fun if you suspend your disbelief. But my problem was that there was no real explanation as to why this dystopian society thought the best way to deal with social control was to divide people up based on personality traits. If anything, that seems to be a very unstable system with a million cracks in it. Also, when a person chooses a faction, they are not allowed to change their mind, even if it turns out that are unsuited to that faction. Hmmm...seems like a society where people end up where their talents are most useful would be a more smoothly run society, but I guess not! Erudite's power struggle with Self-abnegation makes some sense, but the fact that Erudite's members so easily conform to the communal belief that they would be better governmental leaders than Self-abnegation seems weird because aren't these people supposed to be the critical thinkers of society? Why does the film suggest that intelligent people are also power hungry?
Perhaps the books address these questions more fully, but again I am basing this on the information the film alone provides.
Divergent is a fun movie, but a little on the light side, especially compared to the Hunger Games films, which pack a heftier punch, both emotionally and as social/political commentary. I know films should be judged by their own merits, it's hard not to compare the Divergent to the other enormously popular YA dystopia trilogy and find it lacking.
Overall, Divergent is a good time at the movies--good to see on the big screen with a bucket of popcorn. But it probably isn't the kind of film you'll still be thinking about a week later.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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