Hugh does the monster mash.

Rating: Null/10 (9 May 2004)

Hugh Jackman is rapidly becoming this decades Harrison Ford. He seems to get tagged for the all the big budget action parts that require someone who has rugged good looks and appears between the age of 30-40. Much the way Ford was typecast in the late 70s and 80s.
Previously, he hit the nail on the head with his protrayal of wolverine of X-men fame. And in Van Helsing he does a credible job despite being surrounded with basic ineptitude.
In Van Helsing Jackman is basically playing vampire hunter D....look and all....tracking down a monster mash of classic movie creatures circa universal 1930. This time around the beasts are given the modern day CGI treatment. Most come across as cartoonish or rubbery.

The acting....minus Jackman is mostly a miss. His wasp waisted co star Kate Beckensale is as fetching an actress as hollywood has to offer. And her gypsy warrior look is to die for. But brother.....her performance here is for nothing. Her alleged central european accent is a source of constant annoyance. She spends most of the film performing impossible aerial and gymnastic feats or being being slapped around by one of Dracula's albino brides.
The plot itself concerns Dracula.....who is far from frightening or seductive here.....trying to bring the fruits of 400 years of passion to life....while Van Helsing and company seek stop him. In the process various scenes from old horror movies are paid dubious homage.

Vampires appearing when the sun dips behind a cloud as seen in "Kiss of the Vampire". The classic ballroom dance of the living dead from "The fearless Vampire Killers" is shown here as well. We even have the Frankenstien 'It's alive' comments and the famed windmill final from the original frankenstien.
But Van Helsing does have a some moments. The village attack early on by Dracula brides is impressive. And the werewolves represented in the film are top notch of the film. But for the most part Van Helsing fails to live up to the hype. At times only Jackman stands between it and total failure. Showing that even in a overhyped large budget film....Jackman can stand out.