sub-par acting with a pitiful story

Rating: 2/10 (21 July 2005)

Released on DVD this past week, Constantine is the story of modern day exorcist John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) who teams up with local cop Angela Dodson (Rachael Weisz) to investigate the suicide of Dodson's twin sister. They end up uncovering the dark plans of hell's minions to take over the planet, unleashing a violent apocalypse. Despite his careless attitude, Constantine is forced to help in earth's darkest hour.
This kind of role for Keanu just does not work for me. Sure, we're used to seeing him strut around in black trench coats with that dazed and confused look on his face, but in a time where planet earth is set to be destroyed, I sure hope we could find a better savior than Keanu. The acting award for this film definitely goes to Weisz, despite looking nothing like a cop (especially from New York City).
The producers obviously use the great special effects to cover up the sub-par acting and pitiful story. There is nothing worse to me as a movie lover than to see a comic book film fail to seem anything like a comic strip, which Marvel has been so successful in doing the past few years (With exception of Fantastic Four and The Hulk). This is more like Gothic time for all of the pale and anorexic "outcasts" who await their dark lord (Geeeeeez, someone give those people a hug or something).