I admired the first movie for how little it allowed us to latch onto its two male co-stars, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson. My biggest worry was that it would play up the love triangle aspect of the story for a post-Twilight movie audience, which was my most loathed part of the books. Gary Ross and company seemed to share my thoughts on the matter, focusing the movie entirely on Katniss and how busy she is trying to not die which ultimately gives her little time to think about which boy is cuter (especially since it’s obviously Gale).
Similarly, Catching Fire keeps these two in the background and maintains Katniss’ role as hero, even though it’s becoming more of a collaborative effort in which she’s a kind of catalyst or symbol or whatever the Mockingjay stuff is meant to be about. The less time Hemsworth is allowed to talk, the better, and in his recuperative silence following his little scuffle with the Peacekeeper who is so badass that he doesn’t even need a helmet, we’re treated to some tender moments with him and Katniss.
Hutcherson, to his credit, makes Peeta one of the most subtly exciting sidekicks ever. He’s actually far bolder than Katniss in the sequel, in his mind at least, but he still falls down a lot more than she does. Still, his efforts become increasingly admirable, and Hutcherson finds a way of bringing out the simmering anger in his character that may not even be detectable at first. After all, it takes Katniss quite a bit of time to notice.
If only he were hotter!
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