Robin Hood (May 14, 2010): PG-13
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Opening Weekend Box-Office: #2 with $37.1 million, behind Iron Man 2
Domestic Box-Office Gross to-date: $105,257,055
Gross Revenue: $310,340,427
Budget: $200 million
Director: Ridley Scott
Given that Robin Hood was the second big movie to open this summer, it had quite a bit to live-up to, especially after the juggernaut Iron Man 2. In terms of marketing, the only marketing tie-in that I really noticed had to do with Robin Hood being the “Character to Watch” on the USA network (known for the network slogan of “Characters Welcome”) the week prior to its release. It seems that the marketing campaign for Robin Hood relied primarily on previews and word-of-mouth generated by the fact that Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe were teaming up again after 2000’s financially and critically successful Gladiator. By the time Robin Hood came out in theaters, I’m pretty sure I had heard King John scream “I hereby declare him to be an OUTLAW!” fifty or so times. Truth be told, this seemed like little more than a new Gladiator or Braveheart, but considering how great both of those were and how big a fan I am of Russell Crowe, I knew I had to see this movie.
In retrospect, the title of the film is a little deceiving, in that, we are not introduced to the established forest bandit, but rather, the man who will one day become the legendary archer. I will admit that the plot is a bit confusing, dealing with French conspiracies and mistaken and assumed identities, so rather than go into deep explanation; I’m just going to go over the basics. Russell Crowe plays Robin Longstride, an archer who returns from the Crusades after the death of King Richard in battle. He finds England tipping towards civil war after some unfair taxes imposed by King Richard’s newly crowned little brother, John (played superbly by Oscar Isaac). All while attempting to woo Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett), Robin does his best to unite all the English lords against the common enemy of the French, who end up invading England in a climactic battle scene. Because King John sees Robin as a threat, he decides to declare him and outlaw, and from that declaration, the legend is born.
Without a doubt, there are multiple times during the film where you feel that all you are watching is an English Braveheart, and the battle scenes, though awesome in their own right, help reinforce that perception. Though it comes as little surprise to anyone, Russell Crowe was fantastic as the title character (Robin Hood has no problem kicking your ass up front or from a distance); as always, he fully researched his role, reportedly going as far as training with a bow and arrow for 4 months. He generated some criticism for mixing his accent between Irish and English, but really, I think you will be too preoccupied with the plot to notice. As mentioned earlier, Oscar Isaac played the kind of villain you love to hate, but the real evil Robin has to fight comes from Sir Godfrey (a henchman to King John played by Mark Strong); sharp-eyed movie goers will recognize Mark Strong as another recent movie-villain, the sinister Lord Blackwood from 2009’s Sherlock Holmes… and though I haven’t seen it (yet), Strong also played a villain in 2010’s Kick-Ass, the man is a pretty convincing bad-guy. I was also surprised by Cate Blanchett; I normally don’t find her that appealing, but her sassy take on the classic character makes for a welcoming leading lady.
Bottom-line, if you are expecting Robin Hood to be anything ground-breaking or completely original, you will be disappointed, but I think that the story is much more enjoyable if you are familiar with the story of the Robin Hood legend. When Robin meets Little John or Friar Tuck for the first time, it’s a nice allusion to the strong allies they will eventually become. Though the film didn’t take the top box-office, it performed strongly enough to make its budget back; critical reaction has been mixed, and admittedly, the film isn’t perfect. But if you’re looking for a good popcorn flick, are a fan of Russell Crowe, Gladiator, or Braveheart, its worth seeing.
Overall Recommendation: Medium
