Like The Hunger Games, Divergent is being established as a “young adult” futuristic science-fiction franchise centered around a likable young woman who has capabilities far beyond her own awareness.  Both franchises begin with preposterous social systems as a basic premise, but then approach their stories with serious intent and sincerity, not to mention excellent casts.

Divergent posits that a devastating world war has killed off most of the world’s populace, but that a future society in Chicago has survived.  This society has then fragmented into five separate “factions,” based on the innate aptitudes that people have.  The five factions have lived together for a century without much conflict, as each recognizes the merits of the others, and the people seem happy because they are doing what they are born to do (reinforced by mental testing, which ensures that people are shepherded to where they are best suited).  But . . . there are a few lost souls — divergents — who do not fit into any one group, whose talents and potentials cross over faction boundaries.  These people are hunted by one particular faction that has designs on changing the status quo.

It’s an interesting premise that makes a little bit of sense when taken at face value. But the idea that people truly capable of synergistic thought and the physical abilities to enforce their principles would be shunned and hunted is ridiculous.  Such people should lead, not hide.  And, of course, the real flaw in this premise is that so many people would qualify as divergents, because the human mind and psyche cannot so easily be fragmented as this social system would have us believe.  I’m all for social science-fiction, but this one seems spurious at best.

That said, Neil Burger’s film is very well made.  Young Beatrice (Shailene Woodley) takes the test and discovers that she doesn’t fit in.  She still needs to choose, so she follows her heart and chooses “Dauntless,” the physical-action faction whose members enforce rules and basically run around and climb things all the time.  This first film (of a planned trilogy) follows Tris’ (shortened from Beatrice) initiation into Dauntless, her feelings about leaving her parents behind (Ashley Judd and Tony Goldwyn, who led “Abnegation,” the faction involved with leadership and dispute resolution), burgeoning romantic feelings for one of her Dauntless leaders, and the growing certainty that the system in which they all believe is being subjugated by one group looking to coalesce its power.

Much of the story works because Tris is new to it all.  Even though she has lived with these people her whole life, she has no idea of how the other factions actually live or work or train, or how vast the city really is, or how things can be and often are manipulated or corrupted.  She is a babe in the woods who is, through extensive and exhausting training, taught and molded into a real-life action figure.  And it’s a good thing for the society at large that she is ready when one of the factions makes its bold move against another.

At 138 minutes, Divergent takes its time to set the stage, introduce the characters and immerse us in its story.  And while I certainly think the premise is strained, I do like the movie because its characters and situations resonate.  Burger’s film is smart, exciting and perhaps even valuable.  It’s great to see another action movie where the main character is female, and especially someone who feels anguish at being forced to use violence to survive.  While it is a little too cartoonish at times, Divergent is mostly successful at fulfilling its lofty ambitions.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  10 April 2014.