Was Obsequiousmelon buzzed by the Green Hornet?

Name of the Film:  The Green Hornet    

Date seen:  4th February     

I guess you either love Seth Rogen or you don’t.  I read a lot of fanboy hate about him.  I don’t understand why, I think he is funny.  I like most of the films he is in.  

So couple that I like Seth Rogen, with the fact that I have seen a few of the old Green Hornet shows starring Bruce Lee meant that I was really looking forward to the Green Hornet.

However in a year that is going to feature Thor, Captain America and The Green Lantern how does the superhero that started life as a radio play stand up?

Well, from the outset this film attempts to be different.  Ever since Nolan began making Batman films, the superhero has become a more serious topic to base a film on.  Sure we have had the Iron man films with Robert Downey Junior adding a lighter, humourous touch but even in that film we have themes of alcoholism, terrorism and revenge.  Hardly light hearted.

Tonally Green Hornet couldn’t be any more different.  Everything about this film is fun.  Seth Rogen is charismatic and clearly enjoying the role of Brit Reid.  Jay Chou is better in this than in most of the films I have seen him in even if his English is not so good (you cant tell from his delivery.)  Cameron Diaz is the love interest although this is slightly misleading as her part breaks all the rules of the conventional girl in a superhero film (something she has done before when she broke all the rules of the femme fatale in the mask).

The film is in many ways less a superhero movie and more of a buddy cop film.  Rogen and Chow make for an engaging double act and whenever they are on screen the film works well.

If there is a weak spot it is the villain Chudnofsky.  Apart from an interesting opening scene featuring an excellent cameo he lacks any real menace (something that is ironically joked about in the script several times.)  This is not Christoph Waltz fault.  Any one who has seen Inglorious Basterds knows that he can be as menacing as anyone.  The problem lies with the script.  By trying to make him as fun as the rest of the film they rob him of any power he could have had as a credible villain, this makes the whole film feel slightly light weight.

But actually the movie is so slickly presented, the action set pieces so impressive and the cast are having so much fun that it is hard to not enjoy the experience.  This is a popcorn film.  A slice of Saturday entertainment that is enjoyable if not life changing.

I enjoyed this movie, The Green Hornet is fun.  I walked out the cinema with a smile on my face, what more can I ask?

  

Did I enjoy the film?  Yes.   

Would I recommend it to my friends?  Yes.   

Will I buy it on DVD/Blu Ray?  Maybe, I need to see it again before I truly decide on that.   

If it was a mate would I let it date my Sister?  Like I said its a fun film but probably nothing serious.