Dylan O’Brien
Kaya Scodelario
Aml Ameen
Ki Hong Lee
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Will Poulter
Patricia Clarkson

Noah Oppenheim
Grant Pierce Myers
T.S. Nowlin

113 mins.
Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi
September 19, 2014

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images. (MPAA)

“The Maze Runner” is another story about a society run by adolescents. It’s another allegory about growing up. It lets you know that it’s serious by punctuating movements with whooshing and thumping sounds. Along with the protagonist, we’re thrust into this society from the very beginning. He’s in some sort of caged elevator on his way into what we find is the Glade, which is outside of the maze referenced in the title. There are other kids already there who know the ropes. He learns the ropes as he goes along. He’s our conduit. We learn along with him. He doesn’t remember who he is or where he came from, but he’s told that he will remember his name eventually. That’s the one thing that they get to remember for some reason. Or, so we’re told. Does any of this sound familiar?

“The Maze Runner” is really a blend of a prison break story (Fox’s “Prison Break,” for instance) and “The Lord of the Flies” – no, make that “The 100” on The CW. Actually, this film’s society is a cooperative one for the most part. They aren’t sadistic. I guess that’s something new.

There’s a bit of the sci-fi human experimentation theme, as well. Some of the inhabitants have an infection, which drives them crazy. It’s spreading.

Throughout the film, you get all of the scenes you’d expect to get from this genre: the failed escape scene, the feast around the fire scene, the friction and fights with the other members of the group scene, and so on. The runners are tasked with trying to figure out the maze in front of them so that they can escape. If you get trapped in the maze at night, you don’t survive … or so we’re told. Of course, our young protagonist will go through failures in the maze leading up to his eventual triumph. He may even get stuck in the maze overnight: They did provide the warning for a reason, right? Everyone won’t make it through, but he’ll likely take others with him. He’ll probably lose one of his closest allies along the way. I’m sure that he’ll meet the people who put him in the maze, too.

Actually, this is like “Lost,” “Prison Break,” and “The 100.” Let’s throw “Labyrinth” in there, as well … and “The Lord of the Rings” (giant spider monster). Get my drift?

If I know much, but not all, of this about five minutes in, then why continue to watch it? Well, it does have some energy. It zips by on its derivative track for the most part. It does sag in the middle, though, exposing the writing and the acting. Plus, Patricia Clarkson was cast as the main adult presence outside of the maze to lend some credibility to the cast, I guess.

I’m sure that the teenaged audience of “The Maze Runner” will enjoy the film. But it doesn’t have the deeper meaning of the best of these stories. The script doesn’t delve into the why with any depth. It has execution flaws, as well. It’s simply a diversion with little substance. And, of course, they’ve planned for sequels. First it’s “The Hunger Games;” then it’s “Divergent;” and now, it’s this.

Verdict: OKish

About: (Source: fandango.com/themazerunner)

Based on the bestselling novel by James Dashner, this adventure thriller for young adults follows a young boy named Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) who finds himself trapped within a giant, deadly maze with a group of other kids. While he has no memories of his life prior to being in the maze, he is plagued by nightmares about a shadowy organization known only as W.C.K.D., and hopes that these fragments of dreams will help him discover the secrets of his past and a way to escape.