With Mockingjay Part I, The Hunger Games franchise veered from Battle Royale lite to Spartacus for Teens. It impressed me as a surprisingly violent and sober reflection on revolution, more mature than supposedly adult-oriented Hollywood takes on the topic. Part II continues the trend, concluding the series with a chapter that's fitting, if not entirely satisfying. PanEm's revolutionaries approach the Capitol, with President Snow (Donald Sutherland) promising a fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) continues serving as the revolution's spokeswoman, increasingly disenchanted by its brutality. President Coin (Julianne Moore) taps her for a propaganda mission in the Capitol. Instead, Katniss goes rogue, leading her squad - including Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), barely recovered from a Capitol brain scramble, and third wheel Gale (Liam Hutcherson) - to assassinate Snow. Yet as victory become imminent, Katniss realizes that one man's death won't change everything.
Mockingjay builds on its predecessor's moral ambiguity. Characters debate the merits of killing civilians, while Katniss chafes at becoming a symbol while colleagues die around her. Troubled tribute Johanna (Jena Malone) channels Michael Corleone, telling Katniss "You can kill anyone, even a president." Surprisingly, the tyrannical President Snow has the clearest perspective; he sees Coin as a replacement rather than a liberator. He's vindicated by a manufactured atrocity that serves as a pretext for post-revolutionary purges.
Between these thoughtful sections is an action-driven second act. The Capitol's defended not only by enemy soldiers but booby-traps featuring Gatling guns, lasers and floods of oil. The longest (and most exciting) action scene features Katniss's team battling CHUD-like mutants in the Capitol sewers. The commando mission format works surprisingly well, allowing suspense to overtake bombastic action. Teen audiences won't be disappointed, even if they find Mockingjay's revolutionary debates tedious.
As always, Jennifer Lawrence sells it. The last film ended with Katniss throttled by Peeta; this time she's shot, incinerated by bombs, betrayed by her colleagues. Lawrence underplays Katniss's growing desperation; the most effective scene comes early, when she's held at gunpoint by a Capitol sentry and begs him to shoot. Trapped in her public role as liberator, manipulated by Coin and others she loses her humanity. Lawrence balances the action and character development perfectly. She's more impressive here than in Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
Sadly, Mockingjay shafts the supporting cast. Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth continue enacting their boring romantic rivalry. Even raving, half-crazed Peeta is more appealing than bland, emotionless Gale. Donald Sutherland gets a few meaty monologues and Julianne Moore does a good job allowing cynicism to bleed through Coin's façade. Series regulars Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci and Philip Seymour Hoffman make perfunctory walk-ons. After four films, these characters deserved better.
After its grimness and an operatic climactic execution, Mockingjay's epilogue seems a miscalculation. Would a decapitated revolution become a democracy or fall into factional chaos? Can Katniss overcome PTSD through cathartic killing and childbirth? While it's been a pleasure unpacking this teen blockbuster, the non-cynical Groggy doesn't mind the cop out. If any character has earned a happy ending, it's Katniss Everdeen.
