Entertaining, But Still A Bad Movie

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2007)

The JC Experience: Ghost Rider(2007):
Starring: Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider Eva Mendes as Roxanne Simpson Wes Bentley as Blackheart Peter Fonda as Mephistopheles Sam Elliot as Caretaker Donal Logue as Mack
Plot: Based on the Marvel comic book. Young Johnny Blaze's father has cancer and so Mehistopheles makes a deal to remove the cancer in exchange for Blaze whenever he wants him. That wacky demon doesn't say anything about his father dying in an accident however, so Johnny goes off on his own. Years later Blackheart arrives to cause trouble, so Johnny is made into the new Ghost Rider to stop him. Can he rid himself of the curse, save the day and still find time to have a meaningful relationship with EVa Mendes and her cleavage?
Ghost Rider is an odd film for me. Because it's a bad film. There's no denying that. Some things do work but the majority of it does not and has some serious problems that can't be ignored. I'll go ahead and state that I enjoyed the film. But I love the characters and comic so unless it was mind-numbingly bad there was no way I'd completely hate it. But I am objective so I can also see that there was negative there.
To start off, you can tell the creators of this movie(Or at least Nic Cage) loved the characters and wanted to make an entertaining popcorn movie. Ghost Rider is just a bad ass here, getting off some one-liners, stopping some evil, looking awesome in his CGI-induced glory. I loved the big screen portrayal of the Penance Stare. If you have any love for this character then the scene where he rides up the side of a building on the cycle is one of joy. Nic Cage does a fine job as Johnny Blaze, although instead of a tortured soul he kind of comes off as just an oddball. But he's a likable oddball so it's okay. The effects can be off, and downright bad at times(Wind demon especially) but when they work, they WORK. Also you get Eva Mendes showing off her cleavage, some humor and some action. It's a comic movie about a guy who rides around with a flaming skull for a head, so it's a little ridiculous right out of the gate.
However the stupidity does go over the top. Examples: Roxanne randomly pulls out an 8-ball while waiting for Johnny to come to dinner. Is it explained that she has a personality quirk that makes her constantly check an 8-ball? No. She just does it and it's never heard of or spoken of again. Blaze as a oddball lends itself to really out there moments like complaining because he can't watch his monkey show when you think he'd have more pressing issues at hand. Also the big evil bad guys are pretty much laughable here. Peter Fonda does okay, but Wes Bentley? Man he was terrible Over-acting constantly, letting off bad puns some of the time and smiling constantly. He did look evil so I guess that's all you can ask.
As far as his minions go, they are dispatched easily and you never quite know who they are to begin with. For that matter, why does Blackheart even want the contract of 1000 souls? Why does he hate Mephisto so much? Also, why include a love interest and a police subplot if they are really just there to pad out the story? The love story feels tacked on and forced, and the police are so inept you'd think this was the Naked Gun series. Also, I know the plot is kind of hokey but you could at least make Blaze look like he's suffering once in a while. He's cursed, remember? It's good they say so, because you never quite get that impression.
So, as I've mentioned earlier. I liked Ghost Rider. I really did. It was entertaining, and I love the character/comic. But the fact it's a bad movie cannot be ignored and that pains me. Maybe this will get the Director's Cut like Daredevil did and we can see a more fleshed out story, but who knows. Not recommended unless you really love the character like I do.
Rating: *1/2 out of *****