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'The Host' is like 'Twilight,' but duller
Like the Edward-Bella-Jacob triangle that anchored the "Twilight" books and movies, "The Host" focuses on a teenage girl (Saoirse Ronan) who's torn between two lovers. Like Bella, she's of two minds. Only this time, it's literal.
One of them, Melanie, loves Jared (Max Irons). But Melanie's body has been taken over by a parasitic alien that resembles a fiber-optic caterpillar. The alien — one of a race of creatures known as Souls, who have taken over most of humanity — has its own personality and name: Wanderer. Known as Wanda, she loves Ian (Jake Abel).
Wanda and Melanie spend most of the movie bickering with each other over boys, which makes Ronan look like a crazy person. This might make for a slightly creepy nightmare of possession, but it makes for a somewhat dull action flick.
Rather than offering any "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"-style thrills, "The Host" wastes most of its two hours on high school-caliber drama.
The DVD and Blu-ray (Universal, $30-$35) include commentary by author/producer Stephenie Meyer and the filmmakers, and deleted scenes.
Washington Post
Also out Tuesday
Movies: "Admission," "Dead Man Down," "The Gatekeepers," "Spring Breakers," "Temptation," "Would You Rather."
