REVIEW: X-MEN Origins: Wolverine
Rating 7/10
We have our first summer movie of 2009 with X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE. With awesome trailers and being part of a franchise with a solid movie pedigree, it's a film that certaintly appears like a great way to kick off a summer movie season. On top of this, the film focuses on almost everyone's favorite X-MEN character, sir Badass himself, Wolverine (I'm pretty sure Dr. Seuss used the term badassness often in his writing, so I'm going to count it as a word). Unfortunately, those expecting summer greatness will be disappointed, as WOLVERINE never becomes the summer spectacle you would like it to be; however, it is fairly fun, empty-headed entertaiment.
Unlike last summer's more reality-oriented comic book adapations, IRON MAN and THE DARK KNIGHT, WOLVERINE has a high cheese factor to it due to some lame, heavy dialogue and cliché shots. The film's most trite moments include Wolverine's nemesis, Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), saying, "Look what the cat dragged in," along with the film's other primary villain, General William Stryker (Danny Huston), screaming, "This is what you were meant to do!" in over-dramatic fashion as Wolverine refuses to help him. The best of these worst cheesy moments is when, after suffering a tragic loss, our heartbroken protagonist screams with all his body as the camera pulls away. Those of you that have been desperately wondering if Wolverine saw REVENGE OF THE SITH I think will finally have closure on the issue, as Anakin has a similar moment in that film after finding out about his wife's death.
Because the screenplay doesn't exude the depth needed to carry it to be something more, the story here is really a basic revenge tale. Wolverine and his brother Victor Creed (who becomes Sabretooth) get recruited by William Stryker to carry out questionable missions until Wolverine has enough and walks way. Well, you know it doesn't end there as Creed and Stryker eventually meet up with Wolverine again and screw him over, causing our hero to go looking for both men. Things go as you would expect, with the few possible suprises being ruined by information learned in the previous X-MEN films.
What largely salvages X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE into being a decent movie despite all its setbacks is the film's action, which is always well done and intense. At one point, Wolverine jumps onto a helicopter as a rocket blast gives him the neccessary power to leap from his motorcycle onto the airborne vehicle. This is probably the most memorable action moment, but there are several others that come close as X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE has plenty to impress you with when it comes to the fireworks. The film's fast-paced action sequences never feel tiresome, even towards the end when you have seen so much ass already kicked.
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE has its stale aspects, but it is redeemed just enough by its many exciting moments to keep you from feeling cheated when you leave the theater.
Commenting Rules: Comments are intended to open up the discussion to our readers about the topics at hand, and as such should be offered with a positive and constructive attitude. If your comment is not relative to the above post or is disrespectful to the authors and readers, we reserve the right to delete it. Continued abuse of our good nature will result in banishment of the offender. Additionally, if you have any burning issues to point out to the GATW crew - typos, corrections, suggestions, or straight-up criticism - please email us instead of commenting here.