Fun, familar fare

Rating: 7/10 (17 April 2004)

(Hey, there might be spoilers here--but I don't think so; if you've seen the trailers you've seen the movie.)
Look, you know the story: Angst-driven masculine type pines for unobtainable woman, low-self image despite noble bearing and heart of gold. Vast evil powers threaten universe, and of course he's the only one who can stop it--you know, or not--but all for the sake of his one true love.
Which makes life difficult if you happen to be the ultimate blame-victim, the Antichrist. With a nicotine habit. And a fondess for kittens. And you work for a secret government agency. (BTW, with the release of *Hellboy,* the number of Secret Government Agencies now officially outnumbers those Agencies/Bureaus/Services the government does admit exist. How do these people file on their tax return forms?)
So there's nothing special here; some funny one-liners, some great CGI, a few physical humor gags (note HB's interactions w/subway train--a hoot!), the usual "Kiss her you fool!" romantic entanglements and inevitable resolutions.
But that's what we're here for, right? We can pull *Hellboy* up to our chins like a warm fuzzy blanket, slurp our $5 soda and just lean back and enjoy the ride.