Action replaced by chick flick moments?

Rating: 5/10 (15 July 2008)

So there I was sitting in the movie theater after weeks of amazing trailers for what was to be one of the great sequels of this summer. Hellboy was back, and looking more badass than ever with what appeared to be and even darker look. And as soon as the movie started I knew I had been had. The film starts off with a big toothed, awkwardly pre-pubescent hellboy listening to a story about the golden army from Professor Broom. What was the only thing worse than seeing hellboy in such a sad state, watching what could have been a cool intro with the senseless killing performed by giant golden monsters done in the form of puppets. Now granted it had its reason, but was still quite pitiful. The movie takes off where the last left off by making you aware immediately that not only has Agent Myers been cut from this film but Abe's voice is now played by a different actor, and an inferior one at that. You are also introduced by a character who joins the film as further, yet unnecessary comic relief, voiced by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy and American Dad) basically performing the voice he already does for the German goldfish on his show American Dad likely named Krauss. Clearly not meant to be taken seriously, although I expect many people felt he was supposed to be, he was not poorly acted for what he was. The film slowly gets worse and worse as you watch Hellboy and Liz struggle through their new relationship woes and watch as Abe falls for an elven princess. Amazing how you can take a relatively good action movie and turn it into a movie made for the sex in the city and the Wall-E crowds. Fortunatly there were some redeeming comedy moments and solid action. Not enough to pull this movie out of the mud for me. The only upside to this film was seeing that it was left open for a trilogy which will hopefully make up for the sad sack that was this film. My advice: wait till its on DVD or TV, don't bother throwing your money away on a film that is probably not at all what you're looking for.