Did you see the final installment of the “Hunger Games” franchise? Then you probably feel a little like this:
The feeling that washes over you as the credits roll is less in line with the triumphant end of an action movie than some war epic like “Saving Private Ryan.” And that’s weird, considering (a) the franchise is targeted at teen girls and (b) the movie ended with our hero, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), winning the battle against President Snow and dismantling his grotesque dictatorship.
So what accounts for the lingering depression? Let’s take a look.
Prim’s demise
The most obvious reason is the death-by-bomb of Katniss’s sister, Prim (Willow Shields). That certainly puts a damper on victory, considering all Katniss ever wanted was to protect Prim. In fact, that big sister impulse is what set the whole story in motion. When 12-year-old Prim was chosen to represent District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss volunteered to take her place.
It’s not like Katniss went into the arena intending to take down the Capitol or revolutionize Panem. She only had her family in mind.
That being said, Katniss’s relationship with Prim takes on less importance over the course of the books and movies. So that isn’t the only reason “Mockingjay” is such a bummer. There’s also…
The relentless seriousness
The “Hunger Games” franchise is not like your typical sci-fi action-adventure. Just compare the blockbuster to other recent movies in the genre: “Jurassic World,” “The Martian,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the Harry Potter series, the “Avengers” movies and the “Divergent” franchise, among others, have a totally different feel, because they make space for moments of joy within all the darkness. Yes, the circumstances are dire in all of these movies. Getting eaten by Indominus Rex is not how anyone wants to go. But, whether through offbeat exchanges between friends and love interests or quippy one-liners, the mood in most movies occasionally lightens.
“Hunger Games” isn’t that kind of movie. Katniss doesn’t crack even half of a smile. Granted, she has a lot on her mind, between getting strangled by her fiance, being chased by mutts and hatching a plan to assassinate the dictator-to-be. But even during the last scene, after life has settled down and she’s back in District 12 with two kids and a husband, she still seems weighed down by the horrors of the past.
The carnage doesn’t feel like collateral damage
Another difference between the “Hunger Games” movies and your typical mindless action flick is that death doesn’t feel trivial. Consider a movie like “John Wick” that sees a body count of 78, by one critic’s count. The endless string casualties has a numbing effect; human life begins to lose its value. For better or worse, all the bloodshed is less troubling.
But there are always characters mourning the lost ones in “Mockingjay,” reminding us of the stakes. And the movie (like the book) doesn’t shy away from killing off primary and secondary characters, including Finnick, Castor and Boggs. So when bombs annihilate a large crowd, we’re not inoculated from the pain the way we are while watching “John Wick.” The blast makes an emotional impact. And part of that is because, as is often the case with “Hunger Games” violence, children are involved.
The victory feels fleeting
After Katniss kills President Coin (Julianne Moore), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) reads her a letter from Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman). In it, the former Head Gamemaker talks about the inevitable optimism that will follow the deaths of Presidents Coin and Snow. For a while, he writes, people are going to be kind to one another; peace will reign. But humans are flawed and unity never lasts. He’s kind of a glass half-empty guy.
This sense of hope laced with cynicism runs through the whole movie right until the final credits. In the last scene, Katniss cradles her newborn while watching Peeta play with their son in a field. She’s not one for baby talk, though, and rather than cooing sweet sentiments to her offspring, she talks about the nightmares she can’t seem to shake. Even though she counts her blessings, she tells her bright-eyed baby, the horror is never far away.
We still miss Philip Seymour Hoffman
As was the case with “Furious 7,” seeing a movie with an actor who died takes viewers out of the movie momentarily. When Hoffman appears on screen, you can’t help but mourn once again the passing of the phenomenally talented Oscar winner.
Katniss was supposed to end up with Gale
You’re entitled to your opinion, of course. But if you think she was destined to be with Peeta (especially as embodied by Hutcherson) over Liam Hemsworth’s Gale, well, you’re just wrong.
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