So Bad It's Good

Rating: 3/10 (8 July 2007)

I often watch this movie when I need a picker-up. It's just one of those movies that, no matter how hard you try, you cannot manage to take seriously. Whether you're a fan of action, adventure or romance, this movie creates a monster of each genre. It's what directors create when they have too much budget and not enough plot and it's why people say Hollywood is going to the dogs (wolfmen).
Action-wise, most of it is computer animated. And it's not half-bad, but that means it's only really half-good. It's just computerized enough that you can tell it's computerized. Any action that's not computerized... Well, I obviously don't remember it, so...
Adventure films assume a sound plot, which Van Helsing cannot seem to deliver. It's like they took every single legendary monster they could find and shoved them all into one movie. My friends and I check often for guest appearances of The Mummy, but we guessed that the director already got that out of his system. Basically, the plot can't hold up against any critic and most of the time, like when you find out about wolfmen, the movie just leaves you with a 'huh?' and not plausible explanation.
The romance is forced, without much lead-up. Basically, you know it's coming, because you know it HAS to be coming. The main characters hook up because they HAVE to hook up. It's just that kind of movie. And although the chemistry isn't awful, IE, they don't physically repel each other, it's not great, either.
The only point that this movie really sources is comedy, and not for the non-wise-cracking sidekick, either. (My friends and I were so disappointed after realizing that the typical sidekick wasn't even funny. THAT was the worst part). The true comic genius goes unappreciated, though, as, in the Simpson and countless other spoofs, there is a Mufasa reference. Okay, it's not a reference, but heck, it should be.
So there it is. This movie is funny if you like bad movies, but go into it assuming it's a true action/adventure and you'll be sorely disappointed. I love this movie, and suggest you watch it for a laugh, which is sad because I do love Hugh Jackson. Hopefully, he has better things on his horizon that souped-up monster movies.