Teacup of Trendy - Movie Review of THE HOST

I have not yet read The Host. Mainly because the back log of books I have been wanting to read is growing by the week. I was hoping when I saw the film it would not matter that I did not read the book. Overall, I think I followed it quite well, but it does leave you feeling as if you are missing some key plot points.

The movie does not start out the way I thought it would. From the trailers it seems like a basic girl meets boy, boy helps girl survive the end of world, and then something terrible happens plot line. The something terrible happens to Melanie, the leading lady, at the start of the film and the story is told through flashbacks. I actually felt this made the movie more entertaining as you were left in your seat trying to figure out why the aliens are here and why are they inhabiting our bodies. I really enjoy Saoirse Ronan as a leading actress, and she did a good job playing multiple personalities on screen.

After Melanie/Wanda escape from the main city and the bad guys, they make their way to find her beau and brother. All while doing so having an external internal debate on screen. You would think this would be distracting, hearing the main character debate with the voice in her head. At times it was hard to focus on the action at hand, but it did help move the film along.

I especially liked how the characters interacted with each other. It felt like a community on the run (not quite like Rick and the zombie crew from Walking Dead), but it didn't feel fake. Melanie's uncle Jeb played good cop while her aunt Maggie played bad cop when Melanie/Wanda are introduced to the group. This adds to the dynamic of the film as the community struggles to survive, as well as come to terms with learning more about the aliens that have come to Earth.

In true Stephanie Myers fashion there is a love triangle. I kept waiting for some big macho blow out to happen over Melanie/Wanda. I will not give a way any spoiler alerts,  but let's just say it works itself in the end.

The movie as a whole was not terrible. I can not say I loved it, but I definitely did not hate it either. We went before 2PM at AMC which meant a $6.00 movie. That was about what I would pay for it, or a $1.00 from the Redbox. I think the crowd you are with helps too. I went with friends who had read the book so it made it more fun to watch.

I did not walk out of the theater dissatisfied, so I was happy to have sat through it. I wouldn't recommend this is as a bro film, or older adult crowd. This is aimed at the younger audience or 'young adult' fans of the YA genre.

Rating: half a teacup