Good..but odd

Rating: 6/10 (14 July 2008)

I saw this movie the day it came out and was actually much better than I had expected. I thought the first one was more a joke, with unneeded humor, some rather dumb writing and a forgettable plot. While this one is better it still suffers like the first.
First off it starts with one of the worst openings I've seen in a while. and really only starts to kick in about an hour after. The movie tries to add slap-stick comedy, romance, and action. They did action good. but kinda missed the other two. The humor was almost too much, from lame one-liners, to an embarrassing scene with two characters singing to Barry Manilow. It almost felt like the tried humor over took a serious (somewhat) plot.
The romance was for the most part forgettable as with all hero-action movies. But for some reason I never got attached to any of the characters. Not even Hellboy struck me as interesting. Mybe because other than being red and strong. He has no powers, no paranormal abilities you associate with a demon. And like the first movie the other characters just seem to fill in time with their little stories.
I guess in all I was most disappointed in how the plot was portrayed. I thought finally I would get a good movie about pure evil trying to take over earth, but it began to play more of a wanna-be Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. With goblins, wizards, elves. etc. It wouldn't have been as corny if the enemies and creatures actually seemed to pose a threat, but all throughout the movie the characters seemed to deal with their personal issues than that of the plot. Not to spoil the plot but some evil elf-like dude(who lives in the sewers!@?**)wants to take over the world with a mystical army. Okay cool, but add unneeded comedy, sappy romance, unbelievable characters, and kill the spiritual, supernatural thing and fill it with wizards and trolls. Yes trolls. Nothing just seemed to fit
Clearly the director was shooting for a more friendly hero(which doesn't fit cause his name is Hellboy). And he succeeded, the audience was laughing all throughout the movie. If your looking for a serious hero movie, this is not it.
On good notes I must say the special effects were amazing much better than a lot of superhero movies out now, and even in a laughable outfit Ron Pearlman does some great acting, not so much the other cast. So if you was to be entertained with big bangs and pretty colors this is the movie for you.