**1/2 (out of four)
Two activities in "The Maze Runner"-fighting to stay in a circle and considering climbing a very tall wall-reminded me of "American Gladiators," which made me think of "American Ninja Warrior," which makes me wonder how long it will be until that show's turned into a movie. Hollywood is starved for ideas, and these YA adaptations can't last forever. Can they? They can't. Please.
Until then we have "The Maze Runner," the year's 5 billionth movie of its kind that's guaranteed to be neither the best nor the worst movie you've ever seen. Resist urges to call this tale of a youth society struggling to survive "Bored of the Flies." I wasn't bored. Or engaged. Like too many big-screen treatments of best-selling dystopian novels, you half-watch it while thinking about when fall TV comes back and what to eat for dinner. When the big secret's revealed, you don't gasp and drool until the sequel arrives. You say, "Oh, OK," unsurprised and uninspired. Side note: Are people still saying "meh"?
That's not Dylan O'Brien's ("Teen Wolf") fault. He's solid in his first starring role as the courageous Thomas, who wakes in a moving metal box with no idea who he is or how he got there. He's delivered to a contained world of young men who fear the maze that confines them and the robotic alien bug thingies (called Grievers) that dwell within. When one resident tells Thomas, "Welcome to the glade," I expected him to add, "bitch." (There are a few times when the movie vaguely resembles "The Shawshank Redemption" translated to "The O.C.")
The only major question is what's up with this maze, and first-time feature director Wes Ball, adapting James Dashner's book, parcels out few tempting morsels. What in its first moments recalls the awful Canadian sci-fi flick "Cube" quickly switches to aspects of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" with some "Ender's Game" thrown in. As the first and only girl delivered to the group, English actress Kaya Scodelario is too focused on maintaining an American accent to make Teresa into anything. Will Poulter's better as Gally, who blames Thomas for the mayhem that ensues after his arrival.
It's nice that "The Maze Runner" isn't humorless. It has a laugh or two and a little excitement despite average-looking monsters and the maze itself being pretty dull. Too bad the characters remember so little, as memories of "Labyrinth" might help turn "acceptably blah" into "actually fun."
Watch Matt review the week's big new movies Fridays at 11:30 a.m. on NBC.
mpais@tribune.com
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