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I saw it with my son today, and I liked it. I was on the fence on it. I like Seth Rogen in comedies, but had my reservations about him in the role. When I first heard he was cast I just about plotzed. As an insipid an idea as that of Jack Black as Green Lantern I thought. When I saw that Rogen had actually lost weight and got in shape for the role I thought maybe he's taking this at least semi-seriously. Then I heard he wrote the screenplay, and I wasn't sure how to take that.
But bottom line, I enjoyed the movie. Rogen did not play against type. Britt Reid starts out as an obnoxious buffoon, and it's true that he doesn't totally leave that behind him at movie's end. But he does grow into the role of crusading publisher, and the Green Hornet. It's not a wholesale change. That would be unbelievable. The evolution of the character through the movie is actually handled pretty well. I will say I didn't notice any pot references, so he wasn't a stoner, but he was quite the drinker.
There are several nods to the old TV show that I won't spoil for anyone. In fact one major plot point at the end is taken from one of the episodes I saw on SyFy this past Tuesday. There is even a visual reference to the Hornet and Kato's appearances from the old comics and movie serials.
This isn't your father's Green Hornet, but it's not totally removed from it either. A totally striaght-laced Hornet movie would have worked as well, but with the direction they chose to go with this, I think it worked as an enjoyable movie. I liked the banter between Brit and Kato, and even Lenore Case. Cameron Diaz actually has something to do other than being eye-candy.
There is quite a bit of salty language in it. Juvenile stuff. I threatened my son about repeating it. Pretty violent in parts, but it's pretty much all of screen except for explosions and Kato kicking arse.
I know many folks here had a hate-on for this movie, and I can understand it from die-hard Hornet fans. I can't really count myself among them since I never got to watch the TV series until this week. But I do know about the history of the character and I think this movie does it a decent amount of service, with an irreverent tone for sure. But it's heart is ultimately in the right place.
It's a bit like Michael Keaton as Batman. Not the first guy you'd think of, but he managed to pull it off.
If you can keep an open mind, I think you'll enjoy it.
I almost forgot, keep an eye out for Captain Action at the beginning of the movie!
Chris
But bottom line, I enjoyed the movie. Rogen did not play against type. Britt Reid starts out as an obnoxious buffoon, and it's true that he doesn't totally leave that behind him at movie's end. But he does grow into the role of crusading publisher, and the Green Hornet. It's not a wholesale change. That would be unbelievable. The evolution of the character through the movie is actually handled pretty well. I will say I didn't notice any pot references, so he wasn't a stoner, but he was quite the drinker.
There are several nods to the old TV show that I won't spoil for anyone. In fact one major plot point at the end is taken from one of the episodes I saw on SyFy this past Tuesday. There is even a visual reference to the Hornet and Kato's appearances from the old comics and movie serials.
This isn't your father's Green Hornet, but it's not totally removed from it either. A totally striaght-laced Hornet movie would have worked as well, but with the direction they chose to go with this, I think it worked as an enjoyable movie. I liked the banter between Brit and Kato, and even Lenore Case. Cameron Diaz actually has something to do other than being eye-candy.
There is quite a bit of salty language in it. Juvenile stuff. I threatened my son about repeating it. Pretty violent in parts, but it's pretty much all of screen except for explosions and Kato kicking arse.
I know many folks here had a hate-on for this movie, and I can understand it from die-hard Hornet fans. I can't really count myself among them since I never got to watch the TV series until this week. But I do know about the history of the character and I think this movie does it a decent amount of service, with an irreverent tone for sure. But it's heart is ultimately in the right place.
It's a bit like Michael Keaton as Batman. Not the first guy you'd think of, but he managed to pull it off.
If you can keep an open mind, I think you'll enjoy it.
I almost forgot, keep an eye out for Captain Action at the beginning of the movie!
Chris
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