I'm probably too generous in rating this...

Rating: 7/10 (26 May 2006)

...but it does feature an outstanding performance by the always appealing Rachel Weisz, as well as worthy turns by Djimon Hounsou, Peter Stormare, and Tilda Swinton (as the Archangel Gabriel, no less!) Unfortunately, it also stars Keanu Reeves as our titular antihero, perhaps his worst miscasting since Coppola's flawed "Dracula." Reeves struggles manfully to convey the world-weary angst of a man condemned to hell for the sin of suicide, battling demons for the chance of redemption, but it just doesn't play all that well. John Constantine comes off as some sort of Catholic version of Neo from "The Matrix." Weisz, bless her, acts circles around him, carrying the film to its somewhat suspect climax. I don't dislike Reeves as much as some on this site, but Constantine is not a Neo, and he and his tyro feature film director, Francis Lawrence, late of some not-unmentionable music video fame, just don't seem to get that. (Side note: it's with great trepidation I anticipate Lawrence's helming of the Will Smith vehicle, "I Am Legend.") I'm not overly familiar with the comic book on which the messy plot is based, but I gather it's so much more than this movie. Listening to the DVD commentary confirms that the "Constantine" screenplay is a committee affair, and it definitely suffers accordingly. Still, the effects and overall production/art design are top-notch, which at least makes the film fun to watch. The visualization of Hell is effective, and there are various eyecandy treats like a demon formed from bugs and other icky things. The theology is very Catholic, requiring a great deal of willing suspension of disbelief from all but the most devout, and the numerous plot holes yawn almost as wide as the gates of Hell itself.
If it's pseudo-religious rock'em-sock'em action you want, I'd recommend "Hellboy," which keeps its tongue firmly in cheek, avoiding the pretentiousness of "Constantine." If you're looking for an excellent adaptation from comic book sources, try "V For Vendetta," which does everything right that "Constantine" does wrong.