is essentially devoid of interesting characters or even a halfway intriguing plot 
(ROOT (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (RB essentially) (JJ devoid) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (JJ interesting) (NNS characters)) (CC or) (NP (RB even) (DT a) (ADJP (RB halfway) (JJ intriguing)) (NN plot)))))))
(ROOT (VP (VBZ ) (ADJP (RB ) (JJ ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (JJ ) (NNS )) (CC ) (NP (RB ) (DT ) (ADJP (RB ) (JJ )) (NN )))))))