Yet another young adult novel gets squashed into a bland, Saturday afternoon time-waster. Brenton Thwaites ( Oculus ) stars as young adult Jonas in a grey-colored world where emotions are seeped out of people’s lives via medication, resulting in a harmonious but humdrum existence for all.
Jonas is chosen to become a “Receiver of Memories” – the town historian, basically – and pays a visit to the titular Giver (Jeff Bridges, mustering what gravitas he can), a loose cannon who proceeds to blow the kid’s mind. With little in the way of spark or surprise, you won’t be so lucky.
