Beginning of end for ‘Hunger Games’

If you’re a fan of the franchise, you already know there are no actual Hunger Games in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1,” which is all about overthrowing the system that created the Games in the first place. ■ No, this is where the films, as well as the young adult novels from Suzanne Collins on which they are based, shift from the kill-or-be-killed action movies, both of which were emotionally anchored by Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, into a revolutionary political thriller, as the rebels of District 13 finally take a shot at the Capitol of Panem and the series’ villain, President Snow (Donald Sutherland). For the faithful, this new movie is the beginning of the end. ■ And that, really, is its biggest problem. The first part of “Mockingjay” feels bigger and bolder than its predecessors, and the production values are stronger, in that there’s less Capitol and more rubble. But “Part 1,” which will keep the fan base happy and, ahem, hungry for more, is a very long first act in which not very much actually happens, as director Francis Lawrence ticks off the various plot points provided by the book, ensuring that he has just enough screen time for the various big names whose parts were far more important in the first two movies.

Jennifer Lawrence is in a tricky situation here, one that was bound to happen once the final book was divided into a pair of films, and it gives the initial part of the movie a workmanlike feel. At the same time, that situation is a blessing and a curse. The greatest strength of this franchise has always been its casting, and there are worse problems to have than trying to squeeze in the likes of Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci.

This isn’t to say that “Part 1” isn’t entertaining. It’s solid, though it’s the least inspired of the three films to date, existing primarily as a bridge between the second film and the finale. The movie assumes, probably correctly, that its audience knows precisely what happened at the end of “Catching Fire,” last year’s entry. But just in case: In that film’s final moments, Katniss had destroyed the Arena, and she, Finnick (Sam Claflin) and Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) were whisked away to the hidden District 13, where she was reunited with her mother, his sister and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), while Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) was caught and taken to the Capitol.

New characters are introduced, in the form of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and Colonel Boggs (Mahershala Ali), and once Katniss extracts a promise of immunity for Peeta, she teams up with Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to become the Mockingjay, the face of the rebellion, which means shooting propaganda videos in battlefield situations to be broadcast to the other districts in the hopes of uniting them against their common enemy, the Capitol.

Now, if you think propaganda doesn’t sound exactly transparent, you’re right, of course. That’s the whole point of Collins’ final book, that power is a corrupting influence, and that Machiavellian politics make for nasty business, whether you’re the Bacchanalian revelers of the Capitol or the Spartan, militaristic underground dwellers of District 13.

Katniss, ever honest, is only able to participate when she feels great passion, but in many ways she’s a pawn in a war that’s being fought with both weapons and media. It is the media side of things that might make you think “Part 1” is deeper or smarter than it actually is. In truth, the ideas it brings up are fairly simplistic. The sides are already set, and no hearts or minds will be changed.

Lawrence is as good as ever, though she has just about aged out of being able to play an actual teenager. There’s a reason she’s the star, and there’s a reason she has an Oscar on her mantel, and she brings heartbreak, pain and bravery to Katniss once again. But Harrelson as Haymitch, Banks as Effie, and even Hutcherson as Peeta, have very little presence, regardless of the movie’s two-hour running time.

Worst of all is Liam Hemsworth, who, after the first two movies, finally gets a shot at something interesting as Gale, but he barely registers as being interested. Hoffman, to whom the movie is dedicated, brings some much-needed levity to the proceedings, something that is otherwise in short supply.

Look, “Mockingjay — Part 1” isn’t the best “Hunger Games” movie by a long shot, but it isn’t really designed to be. The fans will be temporarily sated, at least until November of next year, when the second half of “Mockingjay” is due. Let’s hope they save the best for last.