The Mummy

By the time you are reading this, you have probably read many harsh reviews of the 2017 reboot of The Mummy or, like me, you have been dreading to see it because of the negative reviews.

The problem with The Mummy is not that it is an appalling disaster, it’s that there is not much to it to think about. Much of my frustration with the film stems from the screenplay. It plays too much on predictable and out-of-date tropes. The film enlists Tom Cruise to play Nick Morton, the typical witty and charming rogue in action, the kind you have seen in many other run-of-the-mill action films. Annabelle Wallis plays Jenny Halsey, the archaeologist who is positioned as nothing more than the damsel-in-distress and exposition device. It is quite disappointing that, in 2017, filmmakers of a big-budget action blockbuster does not challenge themselves to go beyond the longstanding and troubling female stereotypes. Princess Ahmanet/The Mummy played by Sofia Boutella is probably the brighter spot in terms of the performances but even she is unnecessarily sexualized. Comedic moments are sprinkled throughout the film but the jokes ultimately fell flat. Let’s be honest, how many more times do we have to laugh about someone’s sexual performances?

Despite the negative critical and financial reception for The Mummy, Universal plans to march forward with the Dark Universe, a new shared cinematic universe based around the studios' iconic monsters characters. As an inaugural entry to the Dark Universe, The Mummy is a pretty stale and unremarkable effort that does little to generate excitement for the future of the franchise.

(Originally posted on 21 June 2017 @projectunwrapped)