A fun and entertaining film ...

Rating: 8/10 (29 January 2007)

Constantine should not be taken seriously. It's not a masterpiece of film-making and thankfully it doesn't pretend to be. What the audience should expect from this film is an above-average action movie, set in a dark world where the lines between the divine and the mundane have blurred, and supernatural forces conspire to upset the delicate balance between good and evil.
Keanu Reeves is surprisingly well cast as the titular role of John Constantine. His questionable talent works well while playing this dejected character: a man who has lost all hope and fears what the afterlife holds in store for him. His deadpan, emotionless portrayal sounds "right", and is - most importantly - entertaining to watch. Rachel Weisz delivers an impressive performance as police officer Angela Dodson, and the impartial Midnite (played by the excellent Djimon Hounsou) is a delight. Other notable performances are made by Shia LaBeouf; who offers some light-hearted comic relief as sidekick Chas Kramer, and Tilda Swinton; playing the seemingly androgynous and unsympathetic half-breed Gabriel. The appearance of Satan (played by Peter Stormare), while brief, is also quite memorable.
The sound and special effects are both top-notch and effectively draw you into this fantasy world of angels and demons. The writing isn't overly complex, has its clever moments, and is fairly consistently charming. The plot is on par with most action movies, though seems a little more fresh than most ... perhaps this has much to do with its theological framework. The cinematography and direction aren't inspired, though do a good job telling the story.
If you take yourself, this subject, and your movies too seriously, I've no doubt that you might be disappointed. But sit back, grab some popcorn, relax, suspend your disbelief for a little while and enjoy Constantine for what it is: a dark, immersing, fun, and entertaining diversion.