Catching up: ‘Tomb Raider’ ★★

By Bob Bloom

“Tomb Raider” is like a bologna sandwich, ordinary and acceptable.

It’s rote cinema, with the prerequisite scenes of action, violence and explosions.

And like that sandwich, the movie is satisfying for the moment, but not at all memorable.

Like most features hoping to create a money-making franchise, “Tomb Raider” leans heavily on set ups for future adventures — why else would top talents such as Kristin Scott Thomas and Derek Jacobi take such small roles?

As it stands, “Tomb Raider” is exciting. It moves quickly, covering all the necessary plot angles associated with the genre.

The film opens with Lara Croft (Academy Award-winner Alicia Vikander) working as a bicycle messenger in London. She is a very rich young woman, heir to the fortune of her father, who disappeared seven years earlier and is presumed dead.

Of course, she rejects the money as well as the premise that dear old dad is gone.

She learns what her father was doing when he vanished and sets out to find him. This takes her to Hong Kong and then, with the aid of her new pal, Lu Ren (Daniel Wu), a mythical island on which is supposedly buried the tomb of an infamous Japanese sorceress.

Frankly, the movie is uninspiring. Its main asset is Vikander, who brings a steely determination as well as a dash of panache to the role of Lara.

Wu is a stalwart companion, while Walton Goggins makes a nasty, though stereotyped, cardboard villain.

The proceedings on the island wrap up rather quickly, so Lara can return to London and get the ball rolling for a planned sequel.

Only the box office gods know for sure if that will happen I’m not lighting any candles hoping for one.

“Tomb Raider” is easily digested, but also can be evacuated just as fast.

I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

TOMB RAIDER
2 stars out of 4
(PG-13), action, violence, language