Hellboy: Hell is a PG-13 Rating
Let’s get my biggest pet peeve out of the way: Hellboy isn’t as fast-paced as either I or Netflix remembers. When I first saw Hellboy closer to its 2004 release date I found the movie funny and over-the-top, with memorable characters and a great storyline that was like Raiders of the Lost Ark crossed with X-Men.
Time, it seems, has not been kind to this movie. Since its release we’ve seen watershed comic-book movies in Batman Begins and Iron Man. Although Hellboy got a sequel, a planned third film just never materialized, despite star Rom Perlman’s best efforts. Watching the film now reveals more flaws than before. Still, it’s an enjoyable movie.
Quick plot rundown. Based on the Dark Horse comic books by Mike Mignola, Hellboy opens with the titular character being drawn into this world by an army of Nazis lead by Rasputin (Karel Roden). In this universe, the Nazis are cult followers of the Ogdru Jahad, Old God-like characters intent on bringing about the end of the world. When the Allies arrive, Hellboy is saved and taken in by Professor Bruttenholm (John Hurt).
Fast-forward to present day. Professor Bruttenholm now works at the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) and brings in new recruit John Myers (Rupert Evans) to play nice with Hellboy. Rasputin has returned, and its up to Hellboy, Myers and the rest of the BPRD team to stop him.
In terms of origin stories, Hellboy has one of the longest I’ve seen on screen, but for good reason. The world director Guillermo del Toro created is rich and lush; every seemingly impossible thing from a clockwork Nazi to a super-intelligent fish (Abe Sapien, cleverly voiced by Frasier’s David Hyde Pierce) to Hellboy himself is explained and rationalized. Everything feels natural in Hellboy’s world because del Toro took the time to set it up for the audience. There was really no short cutting this, given that del Toro was working from a lesser-known comic-book property belonging to a studio outside the typical Marvel/DC dichotomy.
So when I gripe about the long running time, is it fair? Perhaps not. The movie needs most of its time to establish the characters and the world. There does seem to be a few places del Toro could have trimmed, but it might have weakened the overall film.
What about its other flaws? A few things came to mind while I rewatched the film. Let’s talk first about the CGI. It’s not bad CGI; the textures and creations del Toro gave us in 2004 still hold up today (which is more than I can say for the CGI of Catwoman, also released in 2004). The problem I have with the CGI is its overabundance. Hellboy suffers the same problem last year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron did: the main villain is an army of CGI characters (demon dogs in this case) that I don’t care about. Couple this with the film’s PG-13 rating and I’m really uninvested in any of the fight/death scenes. del Toro is severely hamstrung by the film rating, because it means he can’t show any blood, gore or unpleasantness. So much death happens off screen, and the deaths that do occur on film are bloodless and neat.
Wisely, del Toro understands his limitations given the film rating and also gives us plenty of character development and quiet moments. Here, though, the film also stumbles, notably in Liz’s (Selma Blair’s) character. With all the discussion of how women are portrayed in superhero films, Liz’s character is problematic in her portrayal here. Blair gives a grat performance, but the problem is how Liz is written. While Liz’s abilities are some of the most terrifying in the film, Liz herself has Stockholm Syndrome about the federal government. The way her relationship with the BPRD is portrayed is akin to one of an abusive relationship, with Liz trying to get out and the BPRD saying “You’ll be back.” The ending, where Liz saves everyone is also diluted. While Liz has been learning t control her powers, she needs Meyers to hit her in order to activate them? It cheapens her victory and makes her a weaker hero. I’d love to see a better portrayal of Liz in a future movies.
There’s not enough in Hellboy to make me hate it, but there is enough to make me disappointed that a repeat viewing wasn’t as good as the first time. The directing and the acting are all top notch; it’s only the writing that drags Hellboy down a notch. Not great, not bad, just…average.
Hellboy tl;drs
Quick summary: Hellboy is a devil, enlisted by the US government to fight the paranormal. When Rasputin comes again to end the world, it’s up to Hellboy to save the world.
Too many writers? Two is a good amount, especially if one of them is director Guillermo del Toro.
Recommended if you like: Wisecracking superheroes, passable CGI.
Better than I expected? Man, but Ron Perlman nailed this role.
Worse than I hoped? Other characters aren’t so lucky. Selma Blair gives her all, but her character is badly written.
Should it be rebooted? I’d settle for the long-rumored Hellboy 3.
Verdict: It’s good enough, but could have benefited from a shorter running time. Hasn’t aged as well as some others in the genre.
Related Reading: Wiki article
