Home Movies: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (film review; opens May 1)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (film review; opens May 1) By: Lou Gaul Created on: April 29, 2009 Updated on: April 30, 2009 Avg Rating: 19 Ratings (Avg 2.94)
As played by Hugh Jackman for the fourth time, the highly rebellious character lacks the slickness of “Spider-Man,” the flash of “Iron Man” and the power of “The Incredible Hulk.” Instead, the Australian actor brings a ferocity and melancholy to the “mutant” comic character, who was abused by various forces since childhood and seeks at one point to live in peace with the love of his life, Kyla Silverfox (Lynn Collins of “13 Going on 30”).
That quest for happiness has dire consequences in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
Director Gavin Hood (“Tsotsi”) shows how the antihero mutant develops his lethal powers, which include razor-sharp metal claws that come out whenever he prepares for battle. Thankfully, that’s quite often in this action-packed PG-13 fantasy.
In the story, Wolverine and his older brother, Creed (Liev Schreiber of “Defiance”), possess mutant powers and are eventually recruited by William Stryker (Danny Huston of “The Proposition”). He convinces them to participate in highly dangerous military assignments.
Other mutants involved in those seek-and-destroy missions include samurai-sword whiz Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds of “Smokin’ Aces”), who later becomes Deadpool; mind-games expert Kestrel (musician Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas); super-strong mercenary Fred J. Dukes (Kevin Durand of “3:10 to Yuma”), who becomes The Blob; and electric-power manipulator Chris Bradley (Dominic Monaghan of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy).
Those operations quickly become little more than killing exercises, a fact that causes Wolverine to leave Stryker and company and take another course in life. That decision turns both the calculating Stryker and the lethal Creed against him.
Soon, Wolverine finds that the ordinary life he has spent six years developing with Kyla comes crashing down once his enemies locate him. The title character then declares war on his attackers.
With “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Hood creates something resembling an “X-Files” episode populated by dangerous superheroes and manipulative government operatives. Wolverine learns he can trust no one as the story continues and he continually loses those who could make a positive difference in his life.
In this lethal universe, the government tampers with unknown forces to manipulate mutants and trick them into using their unusual abilities to cause death and destruction.
The film introduces some themes about family connections between siblings and the bonds between fathers and sons, and it also introduces some young mutants. Those include Emma Frost (Tahyna Tozzi of “Beautiful”), Gambit (Taylor Kitsch of TV’s “Friday Night Lights”) and Cyclops (newcomer Tim Pocock).
The prequel “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is the fourth title in the “X-Men” franchise, which has grossed more than $1.1 billion. The intense new title proves far grittier than those previous installments, and it allows Wolverine to bear his claws and open his heart at the same time.
The results prove sad, tragic and undeniably compelling.
Postscript: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the “The X-Men” comic more than four decades ago. According to the film’s production notes, the character of Wolverine came years later, first appearing in comics in 1974 as the creation of Len Wein and art director John Romita Sr. before becoming an integral member of “The X-Men.”
Special note: Be sure to stay in your seat until completion of the end credits. A brief scene hints about the future of a major character.
FILM REVIEW
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”
Grade: B+
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Tahyna Tozzi, Taylor Kitsch, Tim Pocock and Ryan Reynolds; screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods, based on the Marvel Comic character created by Len Wein and John Romita Sr.; produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Hugh Jackman and John Palermo; directed by Gavin Hood.
Running Time: 107 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (intense sequences of action and violence, partial nudity).
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19 Ratings (Avg 2.94)
