Nonstop Movies: ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1’

After three films, nearly two billion dollars earned worldwide and millions of rabid fans, the “Twilight” saga is coming to an end. Fans of the film series, based on Stephenie Meyer’s novels, no doubt have been eagerly awaiting the final chapter, “Breaking Dawn,” hoping for a satisfying conclusion of the tumultuous relationships between Bella, Edward and Jacob.

“Breaking Dawn” is split into two parts, and Part 1 gets right into the story, opening with the wedding of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson). Friends and family of both bride and groom are present to help celebrate the occasion, including Jacob (Taylor Lautner) — the perpetual third wheel — who wishes Bella happiness, despite lingering feelings for her.

Then it’s off to their Brazilian honeymoon, where Bella and Edward finally become intimate, despite fears of what could result from their consummation. Sure enough, Bella becomes pregnant with their mutant child, who not only grows at an alarming rate, but also appears to be killing her from the inside by depleting her of all her nourishment. Bella is rushed home to be cared for by Edward’s family, the Cullens, who cannot find a cure for her. Sensing the baby is causing harm to the still-human Bella, the wolves plot to attack the Cullens to save her life, but need to get through Jacob, one of their own, to get to her.

The story is simple, but one that romanticists will eat up. All the fairytale elements are there — the rose petals, moonlight swim, clichéd proclamations of love, even the four-post canopied bed. Not a single detail of the common romantic fantasy is missed. What is missing is any sense of gravitas. It’s clear from the opening scene that these characters are in a fairytale world and that realism or depth does not exist in their universe. It’s a teenage soap opera like a show I grew up with, “Beverly Hills 90210,” but instead of Brenda, Dylan and Kelly it has a vampire, a human and a wolf.

The film certainly has its flaws. Lautner seems to act with his eyebrows, and the actors playing his family are laughably bad. The action scenes are also dim, flaccid and confusing. Earnest moments come off as campy. And because Part 1 is a set up for Part 2, due out in November 2012, there’s a lot of exposition that slows the film’s pace down.

But despite its shortcomings, the latest “Twilight” entry is still entertaining. Edward and Bella — a couple in real life — have believable chemistry, and their story, while shallow and predictable, provides adequate escapist fare. It’s easy to see the appeal of the film franchise, and I cautiously look forward to its conclusion next November. That just gives me one year to finally decide if I’m Team Edward or Team Jacob.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” 117 minutes, is Rated PG-13 and opens in theaters today.