There is a long and storied history of video games being made into successful feature films. First, there was Super Mario Bros. … oh wait, not that one. Street Fighter? Not so much. Wing Commander, Mortal Kombat, Doom and Bloodrayne all disappointed. The Lara Croft duology did pretty well, but the name “Angelina Jolie” on the posters probably gets most of the credit for that. No, the only property that’s performed well has been the Resident Evil series. The latest adaptation to hit the big screen, Need for Speed hopes to become the next exception and avoid falling prey to the rule.

Sorry folks, that’s not going to happen.

At least most of the previous adaptations were based on franchises with stories. I’m not that familiar with the Need for Speed games, but a quick search of the Wikipedia page confirmed that the few installments that had stories certainly didn’t emphasize them. The movie, thus had nothing to pull from – nor was it tied to a lackluster, half-assed story. With a clean slate like that, one would hope that writer John Gatins could find an interesting way to incorporate the world of illegal car racing into a compelling story. Sadly, it looks like the Fast and Furious have used up all the good ideas.

Of Need for Speed’s myriad problems, the biggest one is structure and pace. It was 41 minutes in before audiences finally learned what the film was actually about. That first act was really a prologue that shouldn’t have lasted longer than 10 minutes. Once the story gets to that point, we finally learn what Tobey Marshall (Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul) wants to accomplish before the credits roll (though to be honest, only one of the results of winning the race – because you had to know it was going to be winning a race – actually comes to fruition). The middle of the film basically becomes a Cannonball Run remake, and the ending really comes out of nowhere.

Even the race sequences, the one thing the film should absolutely nail, are wildly inconsistent. The first (one of two in the wholly unnecessary “first act”) was tough to follow and you could see the end of the second race coming miles away. The final race? The stakes of that race are never all that defined. If it wasn’t for a last-minute plot contrivance, the result caused more problems than it resolved. The effects were all over the place; the stunt worked looked primarily practical (a refreshing change), but the explosions were poorly rendered CGI.

Need for Speed wasn’t all bad. Michael Keaton tiptoes on the “over-the-top” line as the eccentric race organizer. Romi Malek stood out of the crowd of sidekicks, and Imogen Poots was … there. Normally, when screening a movie where I’ve tripped over the expectations walking in the door, I end up enjoying the film more than I should. Sadly, Need for Speed was everything I expected it to be.

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According to SeeItNow, all passes have been claimed. You may keep trying in case any passes are returned prior to the screening. Follow @CliqueClack on Twitter for contest alerts, news and reviews.

CliqueClack has partnered with DreamWorks and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the Baltimore, Virginia Beach and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new action movie Need for Speed starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez, Rami Malek, Scott Mescudi, Dakota Johnson, Harrison Gilbertson and Michael Keaton.

DreamWorks Pictures’ Need for Speed marks an exciting return to the great car culture films of the 1960s and ’70s, when the authenticity of the world brought a new level of intensity to the action on-screen. Tapping into what makes the American myth of the open road so appealing, the story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country journey for our heroes — one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption. Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, Need for Speed captures the freedom and excitement of the game in a real-world setting, while bringing to life the passion for the road that has made our love of cars so timeless.

The screenings will take place on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 PM in Hunt Valley, MD, Washington, DC and Virginia Beach, VA. To claim your passes, select your location of choice below and click on the theater name. This will re-direct you to the SeeItFirst website where you will be able to download up to two passes. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes available and does not administer the website, so all passes are available on a first come, first served basis. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Comments will not be accepted for this offer. Also note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Plan to arrive early. View the trailer below to see more about the film. Need for Speed opens nationwide on March 14.

• AMC Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC
• Regal Hunt Valley, 11511 McCormick Rd., Hunt Valley, MD
• AMC Lynnhaven, 1001 Lynnhaven Mall Loop, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=e73J71RZRn8