Very Enjoyable

Rating: Null/10 (13 February 2005)

Perlman is a demon from another dimension, rescued at the end of World War 2 by John Hurt. Almost sixty years later, Hellboy is a member of an elite paranormal defense unit, along with a strange guy who looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon's peaceful cousin, and Selma Blair, who's a pyrokinetic. They end up fighting the same group who brought Hellboy to Earth, led by Rasputin, of all people.
Very entertaining story based on a comic book I've never really followed. It's carried completely by Perlman, who delivers an amazing performance underneath all of that makeup and makes what would seem like absurd situations (Hellboy battling a monster and trying to save a box of kittens), rote situations (his interactions with Hurt, who he considers a father), and hackneyed situations (his love story with Blair, made difficult by his appearance) believable and even touching.
Most everybody else in the movie does a fine job as well, although I think Blair's role was somewhat underwritten and her motivations a bit opaque, especially early on.
The effects are decent, although it's fair to say the action doesn't really take off. On the other hand, it's hard to know how del Toro would really sell a battle with a Lovecraft-style monster in a library in any "realistic". Instead, the general feeling is of amiable horsing around, essentially -- everything is kept very tongue in cheek, light.
This is a very entertaining melange of Lovecraft, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, and tough guy/hardboiled shtick. Recommended.