Not 'Marvel' enough for most fans, this is an entertaining and character-focused flick that's better than it gets (or doesn't get) credit for being.

Rating: 7/10 (3 May 2018)

'The Incredible Hulk (2008)' feels the least 'Marvel' of all the 'MCU', though the fact that a pseudo-series of non-directly linked films can have a 'feel' is slightly worrying and indicative of the greater 'Marvel problem' that I won't get into here'. It's actually quite refreshing, though, as it tells a rather insular and small tale that's true to the character, thanks in part to the rewrites done by the lead - who was such a fan of the eponymous hero he decided that he should be allowed to take a crack at the script. The piece also never really seems like it properly lets the hero loose, however. Indeed this version of the 'Hulk' is more of a character-study than anything else, a dark examination of the inner psyche that fuels his rage-induced transformation, and in this way it almost fails as the origin story it was intended to be. How this is supposed to directly transpose to Ruffalo's later, and arguably better, incarnation is anyone's guess. The picture as a whole is certainly not as bad as most people tend to give (or not give) it credit for and is actually quite interesting and entertaining throughout. It hits home the 'anger management' aspect that has essentially been lost, especially since 'Avengers Assemble (2012)' and its third-act reveal. This flick's issues mostly pertain to the cumbersome fact that it isn't quite 'Marvel' enough for most fans, especially when looked at retroactively. Really, it should be looked at as a stand-alone, though that's increasingly hard to do, and - even though it pales in comparison to what the studio would go on to do - it is a pretty strong piece in its own right. 7/10