The Giver

Director Phillip Noyce has tried his best to bring Lois Lowry’s book The Giver to the screen, but he’s been hampered by the weak script from Writers Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide.

The story concerns a future world where memories have been sublimated by daily drugs and music and dance have been banned so everyone can live in a vapid bliss where no problems occur…unless, of course, you have some aberration or grow too old to be of use.  In those instances, you’re liquidated.  How blissful.

Only one person in this society, the Giver, is allowed to keep memories alive in case there is ever a need for information that might be helpful to the society. 

Jeff Bridges plays the current Giver, but, unfortunately, it he has what comes across as chronic constipation, so a young man well-played by Brenton Thwaites has been chosen to take over the position.  However, he wants to open everyone’s memory banks.

Thanks to admirable cast, including Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush and Taylor Swift, the film rises above the script and, although it doesn’t have the energy of other young adult adaptions, it should be enjoyable to fans of the book.

I give The Giver a 3 out of 5 for the fan base.