Britt is a typical slacker whose powerful and wealthy newspaper publishing father suddenly dies, leaving him in control of a large newspaper business. Finally motivated to become interested in his father's life, Britt realizes there may have been more to his father than he realized. Setting out to honor his father's life, and maybe get some revenge, Britt finds himself teamed up with a martial-arts expert Kato as the two create the legend of The Green Hornet.
Seth Rogen (Britt/Hornet), Jay Chou (Kato), Cameron Diaz (Lenore), Tom Wilkinson (James), Christoph Waltz (Chudnofsky), David Harbour (Scanlon), Edward Olmos (Mike), Jamie Harris (Popeye), Chad Coleman (Chili).
The Green Hornet starts off with a fall from the hive rather than a controlled launch. After flying into a few windows the film finally finds its wings and learns how to fly with the story smoothing out and beginning to flow. Thankfully the film doesn't take itself very seriously, nor does it require the audience to either. Britt and Kato pairing up and figuring each other out is really what made the film viewable which it wouldn't have been as a simple Green Hornet tale. The ending is just more cheese on top of cheese and at that point we realize this is one hornet without much sting.
Acting was all over the place with Rogen phoning in his now trademark hormonal teenager performance that almost didn't fit this film. Chou, Diaz, and Waltz are what really kept the film entertaining as each delivered a unique, quirky, but solid performance in their respective roles. Thankfully they held up Rogen who is obviously not even in the same class.
Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nicely done with good variety, attention to detail, and blending of components from different decades. Action scenes were a mix of CGI and physical action and both were fairly well done. Dialogue was a messed up blend of drama, violence, and romance which didn't feel like it fit well with the comic book comedy. Sound and soundtrack were mediocre.
Overall The Green Hornet was a nice concept that Rogen apparently dumbed down for appeal to teens and preens. If you can go into this one without expecting satisfaction and depth you won't be disappointed.
With plenty of action violence, foul language, sensuality, and some drug content this should be fine for preens and above. This would be a decent choice for family movie night.
The Green Hornet is no longer showing in any Littleton Colorado movie theatres.
Released: 2011
Reviewed: 7.4.11
Star rating: 3 out of 5
copyright ©2011 Dave Riedel
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