MOVIE REVIEW: The Wolfman - C-

POSTED: Friday, February 12, 2010, 12:07 AM

Filed Under: Movies Movie Review

The Wolfman didn't screen in time for publication but Drew Lazor went anyway.

It's a shame that Benicio's del Toro's love for the 1941 monster classic Wolf Man is not enough to salvage Joe Johnston's hexed remake, which has suffered far too many director swaps, reshoots and delays than a silly movie about lycanthropic English gentlemen in ruffly period costumes should ever endure. Lawrence Talbot (del Toro), an English-born stage actor whom we learn was shipped off to America in his youth (that explains the vaguely Puerto Rican accent!), returns to the perpetually foggy hamlet of Blackmoor to investigate the bizarre death of his brother Ben (Simon Merrells), found ripped to shreds by the side of the road. At first, it's easy for the townsfolk to blame the gypsies hanging out in the forest for the crime, but that's before Lawrence himself is mauled by the same creature. Andddd cue WOLFINESS! Del Toro seems altogether bored by his character. The same goes for Emily Blunt as Ben's sad-sack wife and Hugo Weaving as a jaunty Scotland Yard inspector. Only Anthony Hopkins, as Lawrence's emotionally cold, big-game-hunting father, does delightful (if unsubtle) things with his screen time. A campy self-awareness is pretty much a requirement for these sorts of proceedings, so it's unfortunate that Hopkins is the only one who seems to be having any fun.

Go to citypaper.net/movies for more reviews, tickets and showtimes.

Jacob L. Jackson

Posted 2010-02-21 05:52:18

Couldn't agree more, stay home, rent the original or read the book. This Legend of Wolfboy is pretty good if you're into wolves books and all that. An interesting idea at least. Reading a novel free online, beats a $20 movie. http://LegendOfWolfboy.com/

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