Ender’s Game: YA sci-fi doesn’t quite fly

Based on the Orson Scott novel of the same name, the sci-fi fantasy film Ender’s Game has been in the works for over a decade. The movie leaves room for a sequel, suggesting it’s the launch of some kind of franchise. Although Asa Butterfield tries to draw us into the world of long-suffering Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, the YA movie isn’t dramatically compelling and ultimately lacks crossover appeal for older audiences.

Set in the future, the film revolves around Ender, an incredibly gifted student who excels at military school despite his issues with authority. Impressed with the boy’s innate abilities and concerned about a potential alien invasion, Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) puts him on the fast track to Command School. There, he has a run-in with the Napoleonic Bonzo (Moises Arias), his team captain with whom he develops an intense rivalry. Despite the challenges, Ender finds a good friend fellow trainee Petra (Hailee Steinfeld), who reminds him of his sister Valentine (Abigail Breslin). Neither of these young adult characters is fully developed.

The film’s first half doesn’t let us connect with the main character. Instead, it rather tediously shows Ender’s military skill development. He learns to fight in a zero gravity game held inside a giant globe (Hunger Games meets Quidditch in space) that looks like something out of Tron. And he eventually leads a team of misfits (like the Bad News Bears of the future without much backstory or character definition) to victory in battles against other teams. Though diminutive (and in a number of shirtless scenes, we see just how skinny the kid is), Ender has a fierce temper and stands up to bullies on more than one occasion. The film’s climax comes as Ender must prove to his superiors that he’s capable to leading his team under the toughest of circumstances. It’s a gripping turn of events, but by this point, it’s a little too late.