Our teen years are a tough time. Hormones are running amok, the eternal struggle to fit in rages on and we’re cut off from civilization to train for revenge on the person who killed our mother. I may be generalizing a little bit.
Coming this week to DVD is “Hanna,” a coming-of-age tale about a 16-year old girl whose father has trained her to be an efficient killer. Knowing nothing of the outside world, all Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) dreams of is her chance to exact revenge on the woman responsible for her mother’s murder. After believing her mission is complete, Hanna sets out to her rendezvous with her father and gets to see what the world outside is like.
“Hanna” has two different stories going on but it never truly embraces either one. The beginning of the movie introduces viewers to Hanna while she is out hunting. Her talents are nonetheless impressive. Out of nowhere, her father pops up and they have a sparring match. At nights, her father quizzes Hanna and then the day comes that their plan goes into action. She is taken into custody and, to her knowledge, carries out her mission.
Once she has escaped, Hanna is befriended by a teenage girl, and this is when the story shifts to more of a coming-of-age tale. Hanna is mesmerized by the world that she has only ever seen in books. I think this shift is what works and doesn’t work about the movie. The fact that Hanna is a 16-year-old trained killer makes for an interesting moment when she almost has her first kiss. While most girls would relish the chance to lock lips with a young Spaniard, Hanna pins the young boy to the ground, nearly ripping his head off. The problem is that when I started to become invested in one story, the movie would swap to the other.
Joe Wright does an amazing job visually with the movie. The harsh darkness of the Arctic Circle is a good representation of the life Hanna is made to live but when Hanna makes it out into the real world, it is a very bright, wonderful place to be.
Overall, “Hanna” is a fun and entertaining movie. It is perfect for a cold night where you’re looking for a movie to pop into the DVD player and cuddle up on the couch. It is a fun yet forgettable action romp.
So pop that popcorn, plop down in your favorite chair and enjoy.
The DVD release does include a list of bonus features ranging from an alternate ending to feature commentary with Wright.
Film: 3 Yaps