Although I do see the benefits of having never read Veronica Roth’s “Divergent” nor did I know anything about the plot before I entered the theater. However, having watched a few unbearable episodes of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”, which stars “Divergent” actress Shailene Woodley, I did not have high expectations. But, despite my biased mindset, I was pleasantly surprised—not because of the storyline or cinematography, but by Woodley’s performance, which was one of the few genuine strengths of the movie.

As the movie began, I was immediately enraptured by the setting and its history, even though it sounded a bit too similar to “The Hunger Games.” Set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, the film shows a society split into five factions, which are Erudite, Amity, Dauntless, Abnegation, and Candor. Based on their personalities, teenagers are then forced to choose one faction in order to, supposedly, enforce peace within society. When the main character, Beatrice Prior, takes the test that would help determine which faction she belonged in, her test results were inconclusive, deeming her as “divergent” and ultimately putting her in danger. Beatrice then embarks on a journey to self-discovery and transitions into a confident and brave heroine.

Aside from the interesting plot, the only other strength of the movie was the cast. Theo James, a relatively new actor in Hollywood, was perfect and incredibly convincing as Four. Although he lacks the experience in Hollywood, it was evident that he was more than prepared to co-star in this highly anticipated movie. The character development was flawless, as he transitioned from a cold, authoritative figure to a sensitive, caring love interest. I was also entertained watching Kate Winslet play the villain in the movie and unleash a cruel, heartless side that has rarely seen in her previous movies. And finally, Shailene Woodley. After watching “Divergent,” it was blatantly obvious that her role on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” hinders her true acting abilities. In contrast to Woodley’s role as a shallow, teenage mother in the show, “Divergent” allows Woodley to naturally capture the determination and strength of a female heroine.

However, the movie itself was a bit lackluster. While I am the target audience: a teenager who loved “The Hunger Games” and is interested in action movies with a touch of romance, I felt that the movie fell flat during the last 20 minutes of its two hour and twenty minute length, when the climax was introduced and quickly resolved. Cliché after cliché piled up, as if the screenwriter got tired at the end and stuffed all his ideas into the remaining pages of the script.

In comparison to “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” receives a much lower mark in terms of plot development. Admittedly, I did chuckle a few times in “Divergent,” but those mildly humorous lines did not make up for the fact that the script seemed to have snatched too many cheesy lines from a typical high-school bullying TV movie.

Overall, I would recommend “Divergent,” whether it be on DVD or in the theatres, solely for the powerful chemistry between Beatrice and Four and the somewhat impressive action scenes. This movie seems to be more fitting for pre-teens who would be encouraged by the message of self-empowerment (go girl power!), and young adults who don’t mind a shoddy ending.