Let’s get down to what the film gets wrong. The most glaring shortfall (or deliberate ploy) was the pathetically embarrassing portrayal of the protagonist Mad Rockatansky. The main actor, for most part of the film, came across as a boring, confused, and unforgivable from the standpoint of a protagonist of this strain, unresourceful and mostly, incompetent. 

The character’s lack of competence and a lack of will in the face of adversity, casts him as a disempowered force. One is left asking the question, almost from the outset: why is he even there? Mr. Max’s character, seemed to have been enlisted purely for the sake of filling in the namesake tick-box, so that the Mad Max film would actually have a ‘Mad Max’ in it. Essentially, this film could have worked perfectly without Matt Hardy’s presence. As good an actor as he is, his abilities are wasted, in what is effectively a homage to hairless woman-liberator.

The movie starts off with a monologue delivered by Mr. Hardy, where at one point he states “..they cannot touch me”. The meaninglessness of this remark, is soon validated, for no sooner (i.e. around 4 minutes after he had finished his little intro), Max is captured by the ‘Wild Boys’: the hairless, witless, freakish slaves of Joe Immortan. The mad, gangster-ish main villain of the story. Who looks like a mutated version of the leads of those weird rock bands from the 1990’s: who prided themselves on their “anti-Christ” messaging, and pro-Satanic signs and rituals.

Following his (first) capture, Mr. Max’s body is forcefully tattooed with inscriptions, including his blood type: a mark of his plight. One that does not get better. He then, makes a valiant attempt at escape from the hilltop quod, which fails miserably. In the course of this escape (i.e. capture) sequence, which ends in his attempts being foiled, he has this stupid, uncertain look on his face: a mixture of fear, desperation and helplessness. An indication that this character is one that is devoid of the old wit, spunk and that brash sense of self assurance, that was so characteristic of Mel Gibson’s portrayal.

Mr. Max not only manages to get himself captured. But for much of the film, he is “touched” or kicked around by every Tom, Dick and Harry and Janet and Jesse that the reel manages to throw at you. As the titular protagonist, following his failed (thus disempowering) attempt at escape, he spends much of the first half of the film, either off screen, or with his mouth closed shut, whilst being strung to moving bandwagon. And later on, when he finally breaks free, he spends the rest of the time taking orders, directly or implicitly, from the actual protagonist of the film. The aptly named: Imperator Furiosa. The rough laymen’s translation is: the one who gives orders. Quite an appropriate one, since that is what Mr. Hardy spends much of his screen time doing.

For much of, what constitutes the first act of the movie, Mr. Max is in (mobile) stock. Kind a like the Hunchback of hunchback of Notre Dame. With his mouth shut inside inside metal cage, there is no conversation either. A dumb, immobilized Mad Max. Isn’t that something? Thus the audience is compelled to follow the exploits of the shaved, breast-wrapped, and if you don’t mind me saying so, a deliberately ‘uglified’ Ms. Theron (no sexiness on part of the heroines please). This seems to have been a blatant move on part of the producers or whoever the heck that was in charge of this project. Who clearly seem to harbouring some kind of agenda. For the contrasts are glaring.. and purposeful.

Our bald heroine’s introduction, which follows almost immediately after his, is very much antithetical (I.e. laudatory) to his. As we encounter an independent, accomplished (she works for the Wild Boys) single-minded, and importantly savvy Furiosa. Who, as a ranking member within the villainous sect is hatching her plan to liberate herself and a bunch of naked-looking damsels from the clutches of the villain. Whose plan to save them, and liberate herself is one that actually works. The contrasts, in terms of the polarity is striking. The guy/hero screws things (and himself) up. Whilst the girl/emerging heroine, gets things right. From the outset.

These contrasts become more pronounced when the two of them meet for the first time. The first encounter between the two leaves no doubt who is going to be ‘the man’ in the relationship. As the scuffle that follows, is one which he receives most of the beating. All in the process of trying to sand wrestle a woman who is partially handicapped (Ms. Theron wears artificial hand). Whilst (a roughed up) Mr. Max is eventually subdued with help of the naked-looking damsels. However the gender divide, an unnecessary one, as these are the good guys, is further accentuated by the enduring ineptitude of the protagonist. Who at one point is made to endure the ignominy of being given basic driving lessons, by Ms. Theron. Women tend to not like incompetent losers. Mr. Max happens to be one. Takeaway: No one is getting laid.

Returning to the early escape sequence (I’m leaving out the specifics), where Mr. Hardy, is perched atop a moving automobile, with his orifice caged inside a metal device: which for me, read as: “If you’re not gonna be doing anything, you might as well keep your mouth shut”. Quite the appropriate chastisement one could say to the would-be protagonist. Not only is our male protagonist chained and strung up and left physically powerless, he can’t even open his damn mouth to express disdain at his predicament. Tell you something about the (Western) world today doesn’t it.

And the problems for our “protagonist” just continues. Besides having his mouth shut up till the 47th minute of the reel. Throughout the film, Mr. Max, often finds himself in situations where his initiative, inventiveness if allowed to operate, would have led to better outcomes. But instead, he (i.e. what the writers had intended for his character), simply looks on helplessly, powerlessly. For the spirit of proactivity and will is instead solely embodied by you-know-who. Who grabs the proverbial limelight. Mr. Max, for much of the film, comes across as a person lacking the skills and the savviness needed to survive in world such as this, let alone by the alpha male of the pack. The keen viewer would ponder, how did he end up in such a state. Especially given his (i.e. his character’s) history?

Mr. Max’s role as the disempowered male hero, is one that is artistically contrasted with the quintessential Furiosa. As his publicized powerlessness, is reinforced by the engagements involving his female counterpart. Who carries on in her merry way, doing virtually all the things one would have expected from the Mad Max. There is a moment in this film, which I think sums up the character’s (ignominious) status in the movie. A scene which takes place around 10 minutes past the halfway mark of the movie, where Mr. Max and the merry band of females, when the escaping the convey (or whatever), get stranded in front of a dead tree. When they hear approaching enemies. At which point Max quickly positions himself with a sniper to confront them, only to find Ms. Theron hovering over him with a demanding air. Acknowledging his relative ineptitude he hands the sniper over to her.

His uncharacteristic sloppiness soon becomes predictable. As he keeps getting himself into fixes from which he is unable to extricate himself, without the help of his female compatriots. One such farcical moment (for the wrong reasons) takes place when Mr. Hardy is driving the long-escape truck (a rare sight of agency). But whilst doing so, his steering wheel gets harpooned by an enemy grunt, which also ends up entrapping his left hand. Requiring outside help. Ultimately his hand, and possibly his life, gets saved by, get this, the suicidal heroics of a heavily-pregnant Rosie Huntington. Who risks much (don’t ask me how) to save his sorry a**. 

This theme is pervasive through the out the film. Whether it is him taking directions from Imperator, differing key decisions to the wiser (female) head, whenever the situation demands it. Or just looking stupid and inept requiring someone else (female) to save him. There is one moment, much later in the film, when Mr. Max does help Furiosa out in a tricky situation, presumably saving her life. Though, given what had come already, this was a rather desperate move to give Mr. Max some useful screen time.