I know that the idea of funnyman Seth Rogen as a masked vigilante is somewhat bizarre, but despite the potential miscasting, the fact is that, leading up to its release, the “buzz” surrounding The Green Hornet (pardon the pun) was surprisingly positive. Based on the fictional crime-fighter made famous by a radio program from the 1930s, the Green Hornet film project has a relatively dubious history in Hollywood. Stuck in developmental hell for years, studios have been trying to develop this potential franchise since the early 90s, running through countless big-name actors in an effort to bring a familiar face to the titular hero; at one point Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Wahlberg, and even George Clooney were attached to the project….Clooney instead opted for Batman & Robin, and we all know how that went. Still, despite the difficult road to final development, between the film’s aggressive marketing campaign, the natural draw of the all-star cast, and the inherent cool-factor of a weaponized Chrysler Imperial, The Green Hornet had all the makings of a potential action-comedy blockbuster.
Though the end result is enjoyable enough, I still confess that I found myself slightly disappointed in The Green Hornet, which is plagued by both an incoherent story and weak characters. Seth Rogen rattles off enough one-liners to maintain a high level of comedy throughout the film, but even then, his character is so irredeemably petty that he is almost instantly unlikable, an inconsistent trait for the supposed “hero.” Cameron Diaz feels largely unnecessary as a love interest, but the biggest disappointment is Christoph Waltz as the villain; the character is such a corny departure from Waltz’s award-winning turn as the maniacal antagonist of Inglorious Basterds that audiences will shake their heads in disbelief. The real star of the film is newcomer Jay Chou, as the charisma he brings to the character of Kato results in a subtle badass who steals scenes and emerges as the true hero of the story. Granted, the story is rarely believable, and some characters fail to live up to expectations, but in the end, the blend of humor and action found in The Green Hornet is still enough to engage the imaginations of moviegoers and to keep them entertained.
For more information, please read the full review.
Overall Recommendation: Medium
