The big problem a lot of young adult series face is that they don’t plan ahead. All the effort goes into the first book because if that bombs there won’t be a second, but if it’s a hit often there’s been no planning for what comes next and “next” is coming in a hurry to make sure they keep the momentum going from the first book. When The Maze Runner ended there was at least a shock twist to build on. While Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow “Gladers” had escaped the maze that had been the centre of their memory-wiped lives, they’d also learned that the maze was really one giant test to try and find a cure for a disease that was wiping out humanity just as the environment was collapsing and turning the planet into a wasteland.
The ending suggested they’d swapped one series of tests for another, but that idea vanished between films: now Thomas and company, including sole girl Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) find themselves in a way station run by the clearly evil Janson (Aidan Gillen), who claims to have rescued them from the evil WCKD organisation that was behind the maze.
Soon our crew – plus new guy Aris (Jacob Lofland) – are out in the messed up desert ruins running for their lives from the sinister government, the almost as sinister gangs that rule the wasteland, and the even more sinister diseased remains of humanity, who have all become zombies of the super-fast, will-not-stop variety.
The first Maze Runner was unusual for being a boy-friendly YA tale; that is to say, it focused a lot more on action and thrills than character, with romance barely getting a look-in. This 130-minute film continues that approach, barely sketching in Thomas’ character, let alone his friends (the only one with a character is “the tough one”) and keeping the plot to little more than “we have to go from here to there”. But this does result in a steady stream of action set-pieces that are never less than exciting, while some of the new characters – notably the father and not-quite daughter pair played by Giancarlo Esposito and Rosa Salazar – have a bit more spark to them. It’s an exciting trip that doesn’t really get far; presumably all the big developments are being held back for part three.
Reviewed by Anthony Morris