"Stand" up for this strong sequel

Rating: 7/10 (28 May 2006)

X-Men: The Last Stand is a fitting conclusion to the X-Men trilogy of films (although it has yet to be seen whether or not it will expand beyond these three pictures). Even with a directorial change, Brett Ratner subbing in for Bryan Singer, who left to direct Superman Returns, X-Men: The Last Stand is, for the most part, on par with the first two X-Men films, which is both a blessing and a curse. While it is technically well-made, entertaining and engaging, once again, there are too many characters, too many plot lines and not enough screen time to make everything satisfying.
Picking up some time after X2, The Last Stand finds things looking up for mutants in the USA: a new President (Josef Summer) has appointed Dr. Hank McCoy aka Beast (Kelsey Grammar) as the Secretary of Mutant Relations and is trying to track down rogue mutant Magneto (Ian McKellan). Meanwhile, all is not well back at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Cyclops (James Marsters) is unable to cope with the loss of his wife, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) at the end of X2. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Storm (Halle Berry) are attempting to train the younger generation of X-Men, but disagreeing over approach. Into this setting comes the revelation that a "cure" has been developed that will suppress the mutant gene in current mutants, allowing them to live as standard humans. Magneto and his followers don't agree with this philosophy at all, and are prepared to do whatever it takes to stop the cure from being distributed.
Meanwhile, Jean has been discovered alive and Professor X (Patrick Stewart) reveals that her abilities are so powerful and without limits that he had been forced to suppress a split personality in Jean earlier in life that has now remanifested under the name the Phoenix. When the Phoenix takes control of Jean, she decides to join Magneto's cause and the X-Men must find themselves fighting one of their own, along with Magneto's rather extensive army of mutants.
X-Men: The Last Stand is more than up to the task of delivering an action-packed, attractive looking movie. Director Ratner keeps the action moving at brisk pace, the film rarely stopping to catch it's breath (although not completely without it's small moments). The action sequences are well-staged and on par with the first two X-Men films. Where The Last Stand fails to improve on it's predecessors is in it's handling of it's characters. There are just too many X-Men on screen to allow the audience to build much of an attachment or understanding of any of them very well. The majority of screen time is divided between Wolverine, Storm and Magneto, and they are served well enough, but most of the other characters, even such integral ones as Cyclops, Professor X, Jean Grey and Rogue are left feeling underused. Several new mutant characters are introduced in this film, but they are mostly pretty window dressing to the film. Almost no one really grabs you in this film, so when the big moments hit, you are left feeling somewhat under-involved.
The film also has an extensive amount of plot, and while nothing is really mis-handled, it feels like a bit too much for one film to hold. There are some good ideas on display in The Last Stand, and credit must be given to screenwriters Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg who manage to keep The Last Stand with it's feet firmly planted in a mostly believable world that bears a strong resemblance to our own. Comic book adaptations that work best, such as all the X-Men films, Superman and Batman Begins, aren't afraid to treat their source material with respect and appropriate seriousness, and The Last Stand is no different. Another strength the film displays is it's willingness to take chances with a franchise property that has performed well for it's home studio. Where other sequels are sometimes unwilling to really push the envelope, X-Men: The Last Stand is, and many of the film's stronger moments evolve from this decision.
On the eye-candy front, X-Men: The Last Stand doesn't fail to impress. There are several set-pieces on display here, and they are all fairly strong. This isn't quite as attention-grabbing as a Star Wars movie, but when the big moments come, they have their appropriate force. Acting-wise, everybody is up to form, and none of the leads disappoint. Especially strong in this installment are Ian McKellan and Famke Janssen, and Kelsey Grammar is a welcome addition to the cast as Beast. Vinnie Jones is also notable for some nice one liners as villainous mutant Juggernaut, and Hugh Jackman proves once again that he was the perfect choice to play hard-case loner Wolverine.
All in all, X-Men: The Last Stand is just as entertaining as X-Men and X2, with no real drop in quality apparent. Whatever weaknesses it possesses are ones that have been ingrained since the first film, so the filmmakers of The Last Stand are merely following suit. As far as summer blockbusters go, X-Men: The Last Stand is a cut above and worth your time, especially if you liked the first two.