So disappointed with the acting and the adaptation

Rating: 2/10 (26 December 2014)

After reading this book and seeing the Descendants with Shailene staring opposite the very talented George Clooney, I was very excited to see this movie... and I was terribly disappointed by her performance and how poorly the book was adapted into a screen play and, thus, a feature film.
The acting was absolute rubbish, especially if you had read the book. Veronica Roth writes a brilliant young adult story about a dystopia society split into factions to keep the order of the world after "the war" and how a young girl, through wit, blood, tears, and strength, realizes she does not fit into the labels society has structured for her, leaving her divergent.
The story is told first person from Tris, this young girl, so there is so much feeling and emotion surging through this character as she makes crucial decisions, chooses who to trust, learns when to use her brains verses muscles, and falls in love. NONE of this was apparent by watching this movie. Shailene's face is as emotionless and uninterested as my grandmother listening to me talk about new apps on my phone.
In addition to her flat and downright bland acting, she also fails to show any real sign of romantic interest in the man she supposedly falls deeply in love with based on their special connection of both being divergent. The book goes into such beautiful detail of how their relationship slowly builds, transitions through her training, and is supported and strengthened by adventure, angst, loss, and triumph, but the movie leaves you feeling like they barely know each other or even care to.
I can't just blame Shailene for this pathetic attempt at a love connection because Theo doesn't do any better to show that he is both a strong, bad ass dauntless superstar and a pensive, thoughtful, affectionate partner (swoon) like the book so perfectly creates. I fell in love with Four right along with Tris, but Theo doesn't even gloss over the intricate person that is the character Four.
Like I said, I was so disappointed. I stayed up until 3am to finish this book because I was so enthralled with its adventure, excitement, and strength. I thought so fondly of it after I finished that I basked in the glow of the characters' intense human connection and the journey that lay ahead for them, but, consequently, I would pay someone $100 to give me this 1 hour and 45 minutes of my life back. I would still be longing for a man like Four and motivated by the beautiful and eloquent strength of Tris if this movie could be wiped from my memory.