Relatively Amusing

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 2006)

Honestly, honestly, the movie is pretty much a throwaway. Don't see it if you want a fantastic demonic movie--that would be the Russian release Night Watch.
As it is, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Constantine--I watch it a lot, in fact. Not because the acting is fantastic, or even mediocre. Keanu Reeves has only two faces, it seems: deadpan and angry. And those two are pretty much the same. The only real change comes when he's hacking up a lung.
The other actors are passable, Tilda Swinson and Gavin Rossdale as the angel Gabriel and the demon Balthazar (respectively) standing out particularly. Their characters were also, by and large, the most amusing. The possibly gender-confused (and slightly insane?) Gabriel is an almost pitiable character, while Balthazar simply oozes so much sex appeal that it's almost not fair.
Mostly it's the vibrancy and the actually rather interesting storyline (though, undoubtedly, the movie owes that to the comic series) that carries the movie. Every scene has several details to note--the bar scene instantly comes to mind--so even when the viewer tires of watching Keanu Reeves refuse to change expression, there's plenty else to look at.
Also, in spite of all the failings, it's a very thematic movie. If you want something spectacular in all aspects, don't see Constantine. You'll be disappointed. But, if you simply want a dark- edged film with nice effects and good attention to detail, you'd probably like Constantine.