Who would have thought that only six weeks into 2010 we would have a contender for worst film of the year? Actually, after only six weeks into the new decade! Alas, that is what we have in The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III) – a severely misjudged and poorly executed monster movie.
Set in the English countryside in the late 1880s, The Wolfman is a retelling of the classic lycanthrope tale. Werewolves in the English countryside tearing people apart limb from limb, played by class acts like Benicio Del Toro (Traffic, The Usual Suspects), Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Young Victoria) and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix) strutting around gorgeous sets in stunning costumes sounds like a good time. Unfortunately this is far from the case.
The film takes a nearly insufferable amount of time telling us the rather simple story of the Talbot Family. When we finally get to the action it is either too fast to follow, or it is so heavily reliant on CGI that it lacks any scares. Inspired by the original monster movies of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, The Wolfman circa 2010 is so weighed down by its own seriousness that there is no fun to be had. Claude Rains’ 1941 version this is not.
As for the actors, well, it’s just as unpleasant. Hugo Weaving and Emily Blunt get out relatively unscathed, but the same cannot be said for Benicio Del Toro who is so miscast that it baffles me to think what movie he thought he was making. Unfortunately, not even Del Toro can prepare you for Anthony Hopkins. I’d be tempted to say this is his career nadir if it weren’t for the obvious fact that he just did not care. In between bouts of indecipherable mumbling he seems to be acting as if he just showed up at the studio to rehearse lines before going to a dinner party. There is never one moment that isn’t unenthusiastic and disingenuous.
And then there are the illogical holes in the story. Why does nobody mention how odd it is that an English gent in the 1800s has a son of Puerto Rican descent, as Del Toro is? And my knowledge of lunar cycles may not be that big, but I’m fairly certain there can’t be a crescent moon and a full moon in the same night. Silly things like that exist throughout so that by the time the film’s big climax moves to the top of a waterfall (in the English countryside?) I just had to laugh. In fact, the entire enterprise could be seen as laugh-worthy if it wasn’t just so dull. The Wolfman is a truly terrible movie and a waste of so much talent.
The Wolfman is released nationally in Australia on 11th February
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving
Yup, I had pretty much the same disappointing experience. Though I will say that they cut to that portrait Sir John’s wifey in Spanish dress about a bazillion times, so that’s where Lawrence’s dark looks come from I suppose.
I also kinda dug Hopkins’ performance. He was blatantly having fun with it – both he and Weaving munched their scenes something chronic.
In any case, great review, Glenn. Look forward to reading many more!
Oh and I just realised this review fits in with the theme this week: all you need is love!
This review reminded me of everything lite weight and crass that’s at fault with critics who have no voice. The reviewer is simply spreading and feeding off the bad vibe that came from this picture during it’s production. Talk of the lead actors real nationality and moon cycles is just crap and pointless, who
cares? Get a voice or shut up!