Review of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) by Harry W — 23 Dec 2013

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra is based on a kids brand of action figures, so I had hoped for some kind of childish fun action adventure with it,.

But G.I. Joe takes itself way too seriously with its story and essentially tries to be the Saving Private Ryan of its generation.

At times, the action overkill of G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra matched with the excessive use of visual effects just overloads the viewer and doesn't prove beneficial to the film in much of a strong way. And when I say at times, I mean literally all the time that the action is explosive. And when I say doesn't prove beneficial, I mean that G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra would have worked better as a 3D animated feature. And considering its budget, that wouldn't be a bad idea at all. It would actually make more sense, since considering all the actors take a backseat to excessive CGI action overkill in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra.

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra is all flash but no fun. It relies solely on its many action sequences to entertain, but the visual effects overkill destroys them and leaves them as good as the fight scenes in a video game without the same level of fun. It seems like an army drill to sit through all of G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, and its just never really felt that there is the kind of childish fun that a movie baring the G.I. Joe name would hold. It just takes itself way too seriously and doesn't allow any time for adventure or joy, with the closest it comes being the casting of Marlon Wayans.

Stephen Sommers just has really lost touch with whats important, and while he did direct The Mummy well it must be remembered that he directed The Mummy Returns poorly. Some of that poor direction is available in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra.

And even talented actors Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are challenged by nothing in the film and they are wasted on a lacklustre script and boredom-inducing action overkill.

But Marlon Wayans seems to be a genial presence, because his performance is mostly convincing and does supply minor comic relief at times, even though there isn't much consistency with it at all and the script doesn't give him anything much comedic to work with.

Dennis Quaid was also good because he supplied a certain sense of soldier aggression which was ideal to his character.

So really, people looking for an animated action film need not go further that G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, but people looking for genuine entertainment should keep on looking.