Rating of
3/4
The Spirit is Willing, if Not Quite Able
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/27/08
First things first, The Spirit is really corny. It's ham-tastic. It's government-issued cheese-like material. However, knowing this before you see The Spirit makes it highly enjoyable.
If you're expecting the grit of Sin City or the testosterone spectacle of 300, then look elsewhere. The Spirit, while it shares the look of Sin City, black, white and a dash of color every now and then. That, however, is about all it shares (well, that, and the fact it's based on a graphic novel).
The only thing missing from The Spirit is the BOFF! and BLAM! captions when toilets and bathtubs are hurled with great efficiency during the opening down and dirty fight. Samuel L. Jackson is in full Snakes on a Plane Over-the-Top mode here playing The Octopus - a man who wants to be a god, really hates eggs and has a Nazi fetish.
Joining him is the delectable Scarlett Johansson, playing the icy Silken Floss. Like most of the women in The Spirit, she's not given nearly enough screen time. Even better is Louis Lombardi (known to 24 veterans as the teddy bear Edgar Stiles) who plays not one, or two, or even 6 - but about a dozen or so bumbling henchmen with perpetual smiles, repeating phrases and a knack for getting killed by just about every character.
The Spirit himself is kind of low key. For a lady killer, he never comes across as particularly suave or dashing. Sure, he's nigh invincible, but his personality could use a bit more oomph. Better is his bevy of beauties from the curvaceous Eve Mendes (as past love interest Sand Seref), the unbalanced blade-wielding Paz Vega (killer for hire Plaster of Paris) and the hottest grim reaper ever in Jaime King (Death, known here as Lorelie Rox).
The story is nothing special. Some mythology thrown in, characters from the past, dark plans, oh, and a melting kitten and a foot that hops around with a little Lombardi head (don't ask). Some things seem thrown in randomly and without warning. It makes things interesting, but not necessarily better.
Although it stretches to the point where I almost felt it was too much - The Spirit kept me entertained. Yes, it is juvenile with lots of pretty girls, bad dialogue and crazy fights, but overall I'm pleased with the results.
