Love and Monsters

Think the Zombieland films would be improved if each joke landed with a thud? Love and Monsters is the movie for you.

Despite a creative post-apocalyptic enemy — giant mutated animals, the result of chemical fallout from missiles used to destroy a meteor headed for Earth — the second feature from South African filmmaker Michael Matthews is marred by lousy writing from Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson, and a flaccid lead performance from Dylan O’Brien (American Assassin), whose quest to launch another series after the Maze Runner movies continues to falter.

O’Brien’s Joel is so painfully obvious in his awkward sayings and inability to fit in with his colony of fellow survivors — annoying qualities compounded via his running voiceover that’s full of doomsday clichés — that his risky mission to reunite with long-separated girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick, On the Rocks) at her colony is all but impossible to care about.

While the addition of a faithful canine companion adds some appeal to Joel’s journey, narrow escapes from massive carnivorous beasts are poorly executed and a would-be cheeky run-in with savvy survivalists Clyde (Michael Rooker) and Minnow (Ariana Greenblatt, Avengers: Infinity War) suggests that humor has become extinct in this decimated world.

Amidst these snoozy details, it’s easy to miss that Love and Monsters is actually competently shot, suggesting that at least Matthews knows what he’s doing from time to time. The end result is unlikely to inspire a sequel — or confidence in O’Brien and the writing team — but the director seems worth following.

Grade: D. Rated PG-13. Available to rent via Amazon Video, iTunes, and other streaming services starting Oct. 16

(Photo: Paramount Pictures)