Director:
Guillermo Del Toro

Cast:
Ron Perlman
Selma Blair
John Hurt
Rupert Evans

Official URL:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/

hellboy/index.html

Country: USA
Rating: PG-13
Studio Name: Columbia Pictures
Running Time: 2 hr 0 mins
Release Date: April 2, 2004

Critics's Rating:
(3 Reels) 

April 2, 2004

By Veronica Mixon

Frankly, I wasn’t looking forward to another Superhero based on an adolescent comic book because while Spiderman and X-Men have been great, several Superheroes including a green giant were just barely OK. However, Hellboy is an action-packed, rollicking good time because this big red creature with a gigantic fist of stone has loads of devilish charm.

Hellboy is the name given to a baby devil born from the efforts of Rasputin and a group of Nazis determined to dominate the world during WWII. However, the creature falls into the hands of the American government that creates a secret organization called the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) led by Trevor Buttenholm (John Hurt). The adult Hellboy (Ron Perlman) calls Buttenholm ‘father’ because he’s gathered several odd creatures to fight extraordinary criminals. When a young FBI agent, John Myers (Rupert Evans) joins the B.P.R.D., he’s stunned to learn that the rumors about Hellboy’s existence are true. Hellboy is a muscular red creature that shaves his horns down, smokes cigars, and loves junk food, cats and carousing around. He also adores a kinetic pyro beauty, Liz Sherman (Selma Blair Cruel Intentions) who can’t control her powers. They are all called to arms when the evil forces that first summoned Hellboy to earth, surface with several lethal demons because they want Hellboy to be a force for evil.

Hellboy is a fantastic treat because Ron Perlman’s superb portrayal brings this cartoon character to life. Perlman first became popular on the 1980s TV show Beauty and the Beast where he played half man-half lion that protected a crime fighting DA (Linda Hamilton). They were in love but of course, the relationship was never consummated because of his hairy persona. Though not a traditional handsome Hollywood hunk, Perlman was a major romantic figure in the 1980s and then graduated to a series of action roles in such films as Alien Resurrection, Quest for Fire and Guillermo Del Toro’s Blade II and Cronos. When Hellboy assures Liz that he’ll “remain handsome and never give up on her” the audience laughs and nods at his arrogant delivery. Perlman and Del Toro have created a character that the audience can identify with and route for at the same time. As Hellboy battles creatures across the globe, he delivers saucy one-liners and even though the film is clearly influenced by other movies like Men in Black, The Mummy and The Hulk, it’s still a delight to watch. Furthermore, the sad Liz’s fiery embrace is just perfect for Hellboy. I can’t wait to see the sequel!

to TOP