Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) has spent a lifetime of partying and not caring about the happenings of the everyday world. But after the death of his father, Britt inherits the family’s newspaper and decides that it’s time for a true purpose to his life. With the help of his friend/executive associate/coffee boy, Kato (Jay Chou), he decides to take on the guise of a vigilante to pose as a fellow criminal to take them down from the inside. His name is the Green Hornet.
Based on the old radio show and comic books, the tone to this adaptation of the Green Hornet is designed to be comedic, the main reason why the studio cast Seth Rogen in the title role. Unfortunately, for the route they were taking, they should have kept two words in mind:
Rated PG.
Rogen’s style of comedy has a lot of fans, but limiting to an audience of those film standards truly brought his jokes down. He comes off as a loser on the screen who is trying to act like he’s something he’s not. If the filmmakers wanted him as a central part of this film, then they should have let him speak freely or else he just feels restrained.
Green Hornet’s best comedy comes really out of the set up of the story and the characters. Here, the sidekick is the one boosting the coolness factor and the “hero” has no redeemable qualities. Jay Chou as Kato makes him this laid back friend who just happens to be able to jump across the laws of physics. He is the glory of this crime fighting duo and brings the viewers fantastic action that frankly could have used some more usage in its run time.
Fans of the Green Hornet may be mildly amused. Fans of the Seth Rogen may…also be mildly amused. If you’re ready for a big, loveable superhero comedy, then sorry to say, but this is just a comedy with some good fight scenes. Its larger than life atmosphere was used, but not really pushed to the extent it could have gone. Enjoy it for a couple good chuckles.
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