"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" (2013)

Like its prequel An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug isn't simply an adaptation of a portion of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, but an adaptation of multiple Tolkien works, including extratextual sources written by the author. By attempting to squeeze more into the film than just the the simple narrative of the book, the film consistently bites off more than it can chew.  

The Hobbit is a simple adventure story and it's really the antithesis to The Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Rings is intended as a fantasy epic, while The Hobbit reads more like a folktale. As a follow up to the massive Lord of the Rings though, taking the novel on its own terms simply doesn't jive for attempting to up the ante. By trying to turn a small story into one that's gargantuan in scope, director Peter Jackson sacrifices a lot of the heart at the center of the story. In particular, Jackson completely loses perspective of his main character, modest homebody Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who has been swept up in a journey beyond his wildest imagination. Bilbo returns again with the Loony Toony band of dwarves looking to reclaim to their homeland and treasure. They go through many trials, notably facing the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) who guards their treasure.

But that is not the only story at play. Jackson adds subplot after subplot until the film seems incapable of doing justice to any single one of them. Gandalf (Ian Mackellan) seeks the returning threat of Sauron and his evil minions. A female elf (Evangeline Lily) unrequitedly pines for Legolas (Orlando Bloom), while also falling for one of the dwarfs -- surprisingly one of the sweetest and most affecting subplots. A smuggler (Luke Evans), at the base of the mountain where the treasure lies, desperately attempts to protect his town from the threat of the dragon.

As it is, the film never feels like all these elements are completely necessary. The barest bone concept for the film sounds entertaining enough: rapscallion misfits and their reluctant companion face trials and misfortunes as they try to reclaim lost treasure. That seems like the making of something pretty fun. In deed, when the film is just about a band of travelers on a single-minded quest, the film really clicks. A mid-film scene involving the dwarves and Bilbo escaping an elven prison by taking barrels down a river is far more crowd pleasing than it sounds on paper.

However, the film is draggy. There are too many false starts, and it ends both abruptly and in dreadfully bleak ways. Middle Earth is still an interesting world, and Jackson is still good at world-building, but there's simply far, far too much taking place and too often not enough reason is given to us in order to be invested.

 Grade: ★★