As Gerard Butler’s character says in “Gods of Egypt”: “Well, that didn’t go according to plan, did it?”
He could be talking about the movie, an action-fueled mix of mythology and fiction that generated an apology from director Alex Proyas and Lionsgate studio in November for the lack of diverse casting. And that was before the Oscar brouhaha.
Starring: Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Geoffrey Rush.
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy violence and action, and some sexuality.
“Gods of Egypt” is an unholy hot mess that probably would not have been rescued by a more racially mixed cast or even one not blending Scottish and British and other accents. True, some of the characters are gods, so they can adopt or adhere to whatever accent they want, and — in the case of the women — wear sheer gowns with plunging necklines that would fit right in on the Grammy red carpet.
Mr. Butler is the villainous god, Set, while the briefly seen Bryan Brown is his wise, beloved brother, Osiris, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is Osiris’ son, Horus, about to assume Egypt’s throne. Geoffrey Rush is fiery sun god Ra, father of Set and Osiris.
A tepid love story between two mortals, Bek (Brenton Thwaites) and Zaya (Courtney Eaton), is set against the backdrop of Set’s raging jealousy. That leads Set to murder Osiris, blind Horus — by pushing his fingers into his eyes and plucking them out — and launching battles and conflicts that stretch into the heavens and the afterlife.
Mr. Proyas (“Knowing,” “I, Robot” and “Dark City”) relies heavily on computer-generated imagery that generally looks like computer-generated imagery, especially when large crowds appear. Despite the usually charismatic Mr. Butler, who will return next week as a Secret Service agent in the more promising “London Has Fallen,” most of the movie is utterly uninvolving or just plain silly as with Chadwick Boseman’s fey god of wisdom who is smart enough to clone himself.
Definitely not one for the gods or the ages, in 2-D or 3-D.
Movie editor Barbara Vancheri: bvancheri@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1632. Read her blog: www.post-gazette.com/madaboutmovies.
First Published: February 26, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
