Rating of
2.5/4
Totally Serviceable
Looneymanthegreat - wrote on 07/25/14
Hercules is an arguably fatally flawed movie, but doesn’t really play like one. The closest recent release that I can compare it to is Transformers 4, but unlike that movie Hercules is able to mostly transcend its flaws and entertain its audience.
This flicks screenplay has some serious plotting problems. There are lots of elements to this story that don’t really have anything to do with the plot, or that seem important, but upon closer inspection are revealed to be not but filler. This movie is directed by Bret Ratner, who also directed X-Men 3, and this movie feels similar in its poor plotting.
What Hercules has that sets it apart is its charisma. The movies characters while slapshaw and silly each have their own character traits and mini arcs that get us invested (there are exceptions: the female warrior’s only character trait seems to be that she has boobs and shoots arrows.) On top of that the action sequences are superbly directed and given a very well thought out pacing.
Hercules doesn’t really focus on its odd shifting plot and mostly focuses on the characters and action sequences, which is wise. Often movies like this suffer from being over serious and over plotted, alienating the audience. Ratner’s Hercules is able to keep its action fun instead of sullen and its characters likable if not complex. It’s basically a Pixie Stick in movie form.
If a fun adventure movie is what you’re looking for, then Hercules is probably your best bet at the cinema at the moment. It’s entertaining enough to keep you interested, but if you’re looking for brainier fair then look elsewere. It’s totally serviceable, if not totally satisfying.
