‘New Moon’ needs a new script

“New Moon” takes on the classic love triangle and revamps it by adding a werewolf and a vampire, but that’s not enough to keep the audience awake for two hours.

Edward (Robert Pattinson) leaves town suddenly, leaving Bella (Kristen Stewart) depressed and alone. She finds comfort in Jacob (Taylor Lautner) but realizes she must eventually choose him or Edward.

The film, which is based on the novel of the same name by Stephanie Meyer, is the second installment in a series of four.

Stewart’s heavy breathing and hair swinging in slow motion dominate the film, leaving little room for dialogue or an actual storyline. The paper-thin plot teases the audience, as it seems to be building toward an explosive climax that’s never delivered.

It’s hard to take such a dramatic story seriously when the script is chock-full of cheesy cliches that would make anyone cringe. Pattinson’s ambiguous acting doesn’t help, either: It’s nearly impossible to tell whether he is about to burst into laughter or tears.

The only cast member with any acting chops is Anna Kendrick, who plays Bella’s (sort of) friend Jessica. Her ditzy, yet fiercely confident nature is a welcome distraction from the actual plot of the movie. Unfortunately, no cast member besides Stewart and Lautner sees more than two minutes of screen time.

The action scenes and special effects provide some entertainment, but the chilly backdrop of Forks, Wash., is what really helps to evoke the emotions the film is trying to convey.

Werewolves and vampires are not nearly as frightening as the prospect of watching this movie for 130 minutes. So, if blood and love is what you crave, stick to “True Blood.”