As a new Superhero Studio face-off is coming n July, let's look back at a forgotten Superhero Film.
In the '90s, there was a big push to do Characters from the Radio/Film Serials as Film. Somehow, the Green Hornet didn't make the cut, ending up in Character Licensing Limbo.
In 2011, he finally got his shot!
This Film comes to us from a trio you wouldn't expect- Seth Rogen, Even Goldberg and Michael Gondry.
The latter is a Director most known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, while the former two are known for Bro Comedy Movies.
Will this combination of escargot and bacon be appetizing or upset your stomach? To find out, read on...
In Los Angeles, a criminal named Churnovsky (Christoph Waltz) is trying to be taken seriously, but finds that he's not respected enough.
Is he out of touch?
Well, less out of touch than Nicholas Cage playing him as a White Jamaican would have been.
That was his pitch!
Our would-be Hero is Britt Reid (Rogen) and his new pal Kato, who was his now-late Dad's Mechanic and assistant.
Both need a new outlet, as they have lots of wasted potential.
They go out to vandalize the Dad's Statue and inadvertently stop to save a couple from some Muggers.
Kato proves to be a badass fighter on top of a mechanic, as shown by this neat effect...that we only get like one other time.
The Police don't cover the mugging angle and just the crime.
That gives Britt the idea to push The Green Bee...I mean, Hornet as criminals as a way to get close to other criminals.
He can use his newfound paper to do so.
Their combination of brashness (Reid), ability, mechanics and instincts (Kato) get them on the right path.
They soon make enemies with Churnovsky though and are a bit out of their league.
Thankfully, they just hired a Secretary (Cameron Diaz) who is also an Expert on Criminology.
She can help them (inadvertently) do the wrong thing to, well, do the right thing.
This is also the 2nd Superhero Film with Cameron Diaz involving a dope with a green face (the other being The Mask).
Coincidence? Yes- definitely.
With the help of their car- Black Beauty- will they be able to overcome their issues to stop the bad guys and save the day?
I mean...obviously, yes.
Will they get a Sequel?
I mean...obviously, no.
A Film full of many interesting ideas...that don't really mesh together in the long run.
This had to have been a weird pitch. 'Take a Character mostly known from a Radio Show (and Guest-Starring on Batman) and let the guys from Superbad write it!'
This isn't a knock on them. It just doesn't seem like a good idea unless you're going to do something REALLY different. It never quite commits.
The Film fluctuates between being a big Action Film, a Seth Rogen Comedy, a Drama and a bit experimental with Gondry's flourishes.
The flourishes aren't bad, but they appear and disappear suddenly. Kind of like Waltz's interest in rebranding, which pops up once and then reappears for the finale.
Inarguably, the true saving graces here are the stunt work and the big action Scenes. They look great.
They should- the Film cost about $100 million when this was less the norm.
Never mind the extra $10 million to convert to 3-D (which isn't on my copy).
The final product is one that I'm not sure truly pleases anyone 100%.
It has good Comedy, but also not. It has good Drama, but also not. It is a buddy Film...eventually.
Lots could and should be done with a
Green Hornet Film. Maybe one day.
Next up, a Film featuring a future Marvel Actor and a then current DC Actor. What natural menace will they face off with? Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment