Review of The Green Hornet (2011) by Stephen M — 07 May 2012

There's a certain reckless, off-the-cuff feeling to The Green Hornet that is both its strongest asset and it's greatest weakness. Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind) is famous for his DIY approach, which works best in the wonky action sequences of this big budget reboot of the 1930s radio program. What doesn't fly are the indulgent, sexist and vacillating characters beating mildly comic scenes to death via improv.

Rogen is the spoiled rich son of a self-made newspaper millionaire, Wilkinson. When daddy kicks the bucket, due to a bee sting, Rogen has some choices to make. Should he leave his property-damaging, party boy life to report on the criminal underside of L.A.? Rogen decides to keep both aspects, marrying the two as a dangerous vigilante bent on destroying mob boss Waltz (who won an Oscar for Inglorious Basterds).

Through it all, Rogen sexually harasses his secretary (the supremely underutilized Diaz) and abuses his right-hand man Kato (Chou). Rogen is funny, but his long comic rants seem like he was allowed to goof around without an editor. Sadly, this leeway creates a juvenile, uninteresting character.

That being said, Waltz is a funny self-doubting villain. Also, the flick's special effects sequences are messy and unrealistic, the fight scenes are stupid and joyful, and the car chases are delightfully far-fetched. Watch The Green Hornet for the action; when Rogen starts his standup, go get popcorn.