A funny, irreverent tale with it's target demographic firmly in it's sights.

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 2004)

It's a comic book that's still a comic book. A pouting Demon, a kindly but dying adoptive father, a scheming FBI man and the re-emergence of Rasputin and his gang of immortal Nazi's are smashed together to create Hell on earth. It's a funny, irreverent tale with it's target demographic firmly in it's sights.
During WWII Broom (John Hurt) a paranormal adviser with the US army, happens across a clutch of Nazi's trying to lure Evil Incarnate through a self-made portal. What comes through instead is Hellboy (Ron Perlman). Flash forward 60 years and Hellboy (who's still developmentally in his 20's) is the FBI's secret weapon against all sorts of paranormal nasties. His companion in saving the world is Grigori (Karel Roden) a sort of Aquaman with a penchant for rotten eggs.
Hellboy is pining away for his love, Liz (Selma Blair) a literal firestarter, who insists on hiding herself away in a mental hospital. A young FBI agent, Meyers (Rupert Evans) enters the fray to wait on Hellboy's voracious appetite and provide grist for Hellboy's jealousy when he makes friends with Liz.
But evil stirs across town. Dispatched to the scene of a museum massacre, our heroes come across the Resurrection Hound (a sort of blubbery, wobbly dog) that multiples every time it is killed. The hound has been brought forth by the immortal Nazi's to wreak havoc and prepare the way for Rasputin to make his Evil comeback.
It's a comic book that's literally been made into a film. If that's your thing you're in for a ride. But if the occasional illogical plot points and rollicking ride through a by- the-number's-story that refuses to take itself seriously isn't for you - well pop over to more the more substantial Farenheit 9/11.
It's fun. It's not to be taken seriously and hell, it's Hellboy.