Just like the Little Engine That Could, “The Green Hornet” is picking up steam. After a flurry of questionable reviews, Michel Gondry has confounded most critics, including this one.
The concept of Seth Rogen in an action role verges on a paradox, but after seeing some of the clips below, I’m warming to him. As I am about to go screen “The Green Hornet,” I’m keeping a few things in mind.
Comic Book Zero to Hero: I’m not the biggest fan of comic book movies. In fact, the last movie based off of a comic book that I saw and actually cared enough to see it multiple times was “Batman Forever.”
While “X-Men” wasn’t bad, I only watch it when it’s on TV. The question of whether or not Gondry can put together an intriguing, funny action packed movie is key for this point.
An Unlikely Hero: Seth Rogen was as likely to be an action star as I am to turn into an orangutan. At best, I pegged him for off the wall, early Wes Anderson style comedies, and at worst, another in the line of unfunny Judd Apatow and the like actors.
From what I’ve seen so far, I could be very pleasantly surprised, and may have to develop an appetite for bananas.
Out of the Box Directing: Never underestimate the power of a director who actually knows what he’s doing. Gondry has been the genius behind some of the most artistically-brilliant productions in the video medium, from ground breaking music videos for The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, The White Stripes and Bjork to the Oscar Award winning “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” There are few directors that could turn a potentially fatal dung burger into a work of art, Gondry’s one of them.
Seen, But Not Recognized: The supporting cast of ‘The Green Hornet” might just be the ace in the hole should things go south. Christopher Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward Furlong and Edward James Olmos all have the chops to pull this movie back from the brink, should it need it. Newcomer to me Jay Chou looks to be the geeky sidekick that’ll crack smart jokes, or at least smart for 2011.
Overall, I’m being cautiously optimistic. Just because it’ just now hitting me on a geek level, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a good flick. I might remind everyone that the best case scenario was envisioned for “Scott Pilgrim” and I think it turned out to be one of the worst movies of 2010. As it stands, “The Green Hornet’ just might have a chance, but I think it’s all going to ride on whether or not Seth Rogen can pull off the hero role.
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Follow Chris Hyatt on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hyattch.
I can’t believe it, but I am actually excited about this movie!