Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Dustin Chase
Does the prequel “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” live up to the Academy Award-winning “Mad Max: Fury Road”? Of course not. Lightning struck in 2015 when George Miller reinvented his Mad Max saga with practical effects, head-spinning cinematography, and dedicated performances from Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, and especially Charlize Theron. “Furiosa” is reminiscent of how “The Hobbit” prequels were for “The Lord of the Rings,” more became less. You can appreciate the expansion in the story and further character history, but it is ultimately unnecessary. One particular line in the screenplay, “Do you have it in you to make it epic,” really puts things into perspective. “Fury Road” felt epic, “Furiosa” does not.
Snatched from her lush home as a child, Furiosa grows up quickly as a prisoner of Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). She won’t speak or give the rambunctious desert bullies a clue on how to find her “Place of Abundance.” The Dementors grow desperate, hungry, and thirsty until they discover the citadel. Dementus is accustomed to taking what he wants with his desert hoard behind him. Citadel ruler Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) is unphased by the ragtag crew and their threats. They eventually strike a deal, which includes the young, untouched Furiosa becoming the property of Immortan Joe. Here, she becomes the hardened, fierce, and savvy warrior we know.
...nearly an hour into the film, you realize that whatever made “Fury Road” so alive isn’t happening this time around.
By the time Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Northman,” “Emma”) appears on screen as the teenage Furiosa, nearly an hour into the film, you realize that whatever made “Fury Road” so alive isn’t happening this time around. The creative vehicles, battles, and explosions are all there, but the energy isn’t the same. “Furiosa” isn’t a bad film; it’s entertaining, has electric stunt work, and is a blend of CGI and practical effects that are mostly engaging. Yet the stakes don’t seem very high. Hemsworth’s heavy-handed performance is certainly showier than Taylor-Joy’s reserved version of Furiosa. Both are ultimately miscast. While an origin story, it’s also a villain versus villain story that leads up to the moment when “Fury Road” takes off.
As a Memorial Day-Summer box office kick-off film, “Furiosa” is more satisfying than some superhero sequel or reboot. Yet, for all the hype, Miller’s return to the desert doesn’t quench the thirst for more left by “Fury Road.” The iconic moment where Theron screams into the desert in “Fury Road,” the score by Tom Holkenborg, breaks your heart. Amid all the madness “Fury Road” was firing off, it still managed these emotional high points that elevated that wild action film into something bigger. Sadly, “Furiosa” doesn’t have those arcs or moments, just lots of fire, blood, and excess.
Final Thought
As an origin tale, "Furiosa" fails to recapture the brilliance of "Fury Road" from a decade ago.