Jack Black's Movie 'Borderlands' Criticized as Worst of the Year

The film "Borderlands," featuring Jack Black in his first major role since a controversial incident involving his Tenacious D bandmate, is receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics have labeled it as a potential contender for the worst movie of the year, with one reviewer from the London Evening Standard describing it as "laughably bad" and reminiscent of a time when video game adaptations were synonymous with mediocrity. Black voices Claptrap, a character from the popular video game series, but his performance has been criticized as "grating and unfunny." The ensemble cast, which includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jamie Lee Curtis, has not been enough to salvage the film's reputation. The Daily Beast described "Borderlands" as "drearily routine and slapdash," suggesting that even artificial intelligence would find it too derivative. The Hollywood Reporter echoed these sentiments, stating that Black's portrayal of Claptrap, which includes frequent song and dance, quickly becomes tiresome. In the backdrop of the film's release, Black has faced scrutiny for his past political affiliations, having been a prominent supporter of Joe Biden. Following a controversial comment made by his bandmate during a performance, Black decided to pause the international tour and put Tenacious D on hiatus. However, he has indicated plans to revive the band in the future while promoting "Borderlands," which has sparked further discussion about his career trajectory and public persona.