Poorly written, but Perlman delivers once again. (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (24 April 2004)

The opening sequence is so poorly written, it's an effort to sit through. Kevin Trainor as "Young Broom" is so annoyingly pompous and proper it's a wonder the GIs don't shoot him. (Or each other, considering the dialogue). Thankfully, it does get better. And Broom gets older in the form of John Hurt, who turns in an entertaining, though stock "eccentric professor" performance. Hellboy really begins after the title sequence. Ron Perlman is ideally suited to the title role. His dry sense of humor and grumpy cigar-toting character is the glue that holds the film together. And of course he brings the weight of years of character work to the role. but the supporting cast are an odd assortment of mismatched actors.

Selma Blair has a moment or two, but is massively under-utilized. Jeffrey Tambor is amusing, but too light for the role. Hellboy's "handler", Rupert Evans, is a real let down. Writer/director Del Toro sets up a connection between him and Blair in their first meeting, with a look held that moment too long. Selma and HB have a long time thing, but Evans supposedly offers everything the monster can't - normalcy, good looks and an even temper. Yet nothing ever comes of it. There's zero chemistry. Unsurprising when Evans is so squeeky clean and doe-eyed, he looks like he's been castrated.

Sadly, the effects aren't great either. Apocalyptic visions pale in comparison to those of The Matrix, the portal looks like a low budget Stargate, and the ever-duplicating monsters look suspiciously like actors in suits with stilts on their forearms.
All in all, Hellboy is a good effort, let down by poor dialogue, mediocre SFX and some questionable casting. Nevertheless, worth a look if, like me, you're a fan of Ron Perlman.