The Green Hornet (2011)

Title, Year:  The Green Hornet (2011)

Director:  Michell Gondry

Awkward…that’s the word that kept coming to mind while watching The Green Hornet.  Does that mean I didn’t like the movie?  No.  I actually enjoyed many moments where the actors in the film were just cutting loose and having fun.  Overall though, the movie has trouble finding its tone, which can be a problem when  filmmakers try to blend genres.  In this case, The Green Hornet attempts to be a knowingly comedic version of a hero origin story as well as a visual effects laden action movie. There’s also some pretty weak family drama thrown in. 

I think the “good” moments in this movie all involve the goofy, brotherly spats between the two lead characters played by Seth Rogen (as Britt Reid, aka the Green Hornet) and Jay Chou (as Hornet sidekick Kato!).  Kato is the role famously played by Bruce Lee on television.  As expected, Chou does his best to make Kato the cool, genius martial arts expert that he needs to be.  Rogen plays absurdly wealthy Britt Reid like a big nerd who has way too much money and isn’t very bright.  So much so that he actually thinks dressing up like a crime fighter and sporting around town in a revved up car for no reason at all is a great way to spend an evening.  In a funny bit of the script, Reid and Kato take direction from an un-witting accomplice secretary played by Cameron Diaz.  She feeds them research on the crime hot spots in Los Angeles and thereby leads them into uncovering a conspiracy involving the District Attorney, a local crime lord (played by Cristoph Waltz, looking lost an un-amused by his involvement), and possibly Britt’s deceased father. 

Here’s my breakdown.  The script and the lead actors brought together moments that made me chuckle.  The action is just average and there isn’t enough of the cool car and gadgets that Kato brings to life.  Some of the fun that the filmmakers appear to have had while making the movie does translate to the screen.  Some of the movie just falls flat.  Michell Gondry is an odd choice to direct a movie such as this.  He is the quirky director that so brilliantly wove together Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  With this movie, he is obviously out of his element. 

If you are feeling light and looking for a few decent laughs, give the movie a try.  It helps to enjoy comic-book based movies and the nostalgia for the Kato character along is appeal enough for many fans out there.  Overall though, I think the movie is about as good as we can expect in any movie about the Green Hornet.  After all, the character is really just a very campy joke version of Bruce Wayne/Batman.  Key point though:  Kato could kick Robin’s *&@!