A step up from the expository creakiness of the Divergent series’ dystopian first instalment (although still hobbled by a wobbly sub-Hunger Games premise), this finds Shailene Woodley’s defiantly uncategorisable Tris wrestling her inner demons while presenting a seismic threat to ice queen Jeanine (Kate Winslet) and her perfectly ordered society. This time the settings are more expansive, venturing from the eco-domes of Amity to the Mad Max-industrial functionality of the Factionless lair, and on to the more pristine worlds of Candor and Erudite.
While the central concept of a society segmented by dopey character traits continues to sound like a Two Ronnies sketch, Robert Schwentke cranks up the action enough to keep us distracted, with well-oiled scenes of renegades jumping freight trains, and simulated cliffhangers involving flying fiery buildings offering several edge-of-your-seat moments. The impish Woodley has ass-kicking chops and remains the epicentre, while Whiplash star Miles Teller makes the most of his role as Peter, a turncoat whose snarky selfishness lends the movie a much-needed astringent streak.
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