Emma and Emily Are Mediocre in Nerve
Film: Nerve (2016). Young Actresses: Emma Roberts, 24, and Emily Meade, 26.
Nerve begins as shy high school senior Vee (Emma) hears from her friend Sydney (Emily) about an online game in which players carry out various different dares for cash prizes. Vee impulsively joins, and she's immediately paired with another player, Ian (Dave Franco). Together they complete a series of dares that become more dangerous as the game goes on. On one dare, for example, Ian must reach 60mph driving a motorcycle through Manhattan while blindfolded, with Vee riding behind him giving him directions. (They do it successfully, one of many ways that the movie strains believability.) Sydney, used to being the dominant friend, quickly gets jealous of Vee's successful dares and high number of followers, and the two break off their friendship after a sobby argument. Meanwhile, her friend Tommy (Miles Heizer) runs a background check on Ian and tries to warn Vee that, among other things, he was part of a dare that left another player dead.
Sydney tells Vee about the game
About that straining believability: The plot reaches absurd levels when Vee tries to quit playing the game, and it descends into an almost outright rip-off of The Hunger Games when Vee and Ian are forced to fight to the death.
Emily gives a good supporting performance as Sydney, and Miles Heizer is likeable as the friend-zoned sidekick. But Emma is very average, which is unfortunate, since she plays the main character. She and Dave Franco are both related to actors more famous than they are, and I imagine it's been hard for them to make a name for themselves. Most of the movie is decent and watchable, and interesting for how it examines how the anonymity of the Internet effects young people, but I feel like two better leads could've elevated it to something more.
Nerve begins as shy high school senior Vee (Emma) hears from her friend Sydney (Emily) about an online game in which players carry out various different dares for cash prizes. Vee impulsively joins, and she's immediately paired with another player, Ian (Dave Franco). Together they complete a series of dares that become more dangerous as the game goes on. On one dare, for example, Ian must reach 60mph driving a motorcycle through Manhattan while blindfolded, with Vee riding behind him giving him directions. (They do it successfully, one of many ways that the movie strains believability.) Sydney, used to being the dominant friend, quickly gets jealous of Vee's successful dares and high number of followers, and the two break off their friendship after a sobby argument. Meanwhile, her friend Tommy (Miles Heizer) runs a background check on Ian and tries to warn Vee that, among other things, he was part of a dare that left another player dead.
Sydney tells Vee about the game
About that straining believability: The plot reaches absurd levels when Vee tries to quit playing the game, and it descends into an almost outright rip-off of The Hunger Games when Vee and Ian are forced to fight to the death.
Emily gives a good supporting performance as Sydney, and Miles Heizer is likeable as the friend-zoned sidekick. But Emma is very average, which is unfortunate, since she plays the main character. She and Dave Franco are both related to actors more famous than they are, and I imagine it's been hard for them to make a name for themselves. Most of the movie is decent and watchable, and interesting for how it examines how the anonymity of the Internet effects young people, but I feel like two better leads could've elevated it to something more.