Harrison Gilbertson, Addison Timlin and Jeremy Irvine
It’s got a love triangle involving a plucky girl and two handsome guys with opposite personalities. Well, it’s not another “Twilight” sequel; it’s Scott Hicks’ “Fallen,” obviously inspired by the young-adult megahit franchise. But will it fill the void left by the fantasy-romance series of films? It’s doubtful, by the looks of it.
The film centers on Lucinda (Addison Timlin), who transfers to a school for mostly problematic teens after a tragic and traumatic experience.
She used to have visions, but these were labeled as hallucinatory episodes, which have considerably lessened with medication. She welcomes the change of scenery, but the Sword and Cross reform school has potentially dangerous teens who catch the eye of the new student.
The troublemaking Cam (Harrison Gilbertson) is an unabashed delinquent who soon expresses interest in Lucinda. Another student, the blond artist Daniel (Jeremy Irvine), is mysterious and moody, who repeatedly draws in the 16-year-old girl despite several rebuffs.
Sounds “Twilight”-y yet? Of course, these guys have powers—angelic abilities, no less—to complement their good looks. The heavy-handed hinting that these teens are part of some otherworldly cliques doesn’t exactly inspire a complicated puzzle. The story repeatedly mentions angel lore, as if to remind the viewer that it’s an altogether different chick flick/fantasy saga.
Addison Timlin (left) and Harrison Gilbertson
Addison Timlin (left) and Jeremy Irvine
But these “other” kids are obviously those angels exiled to Earth for not choosing sides during the war between God and his first supposedly erring children. Anyway, they hang out in groups, much like the vampire factions in “Twilight.”
Lucinda obsesses about her undefined connection to Daniel, while keeping Cam close. So there’s an inevitable fight, as well as the characters hinting at grander threats and mysteries—most of which don’t feel urgent or significant to the viewers.
It’s a good-looking cast, though, which should attract casual viewers and nonfans of the books. They certainly look familiar; Timlin resembles “Westworld’s” Shannon Woodward; Irvine looks like a younger Chris Pratt and Austin Nichols; Gilbertson looks like Dane DeHaan, crossed with a Hemsworth sibling.
But “Fallen,” sadly, is too thin. It’s hard to care for any of the characters. Sure, Penn (Lola Kirke) is the resident bespectacled best friend, the trustworthy character that often makes sense, which makes her instantly likeable. But that’s about it.
The contrived romance and the eyeroll-inducing enmity between the young men unfold in immensely predictable ways, creating no real tension and excitement.
The presented mythology is also shaky; its details recited from time to time, but eliciting little reaction. There’s eye candy, sure, it’s got that covered, at least—but “Fallen” feels like a lugubrious recycling of exhausted young-adult tropes, from beginning till end.