Review: Green Lantern

“Where did it all go wrong?” are probably the words going through the minds of studio execs at Warner Bros. right about now. Not only are the opening weekend figures for Green Lantern way below expectations ($52 million; initial projections were double that), but the comic book flick has taken the kind of unrestrained mauling that journalists usually reserve for the dictator of a third world country, or Rob Schneider. Sad to say, but things are not looking good for poor Hal Jordan.

Which is a shame, really. Green Lantern may not be the critical darling nor the commercial hit Iron Man was three years ago, but it’s far from being the disasters Jonah Hex and The Spirit turned out to be more recently. In fact, it could be argued that most of the harsh criticism stems less from the film’s shortcomings, and more from the critics’ exasperation with the ever-growing number of superhero titles pervading multiplexes every summer. Basically, Green Lantern’s main blemish is that it is content with being just another origin story. It can be accused of being lazy, yes, maybe even a tad derivative when compared to its peers, but there is a lot to recommend too.

For starters, the idea of a hero who fights crime by summoning metaphysical constructs with a power ring is a rather neat one, which makes way for innovative action sequences you wouldn't see in Thor or X-men. Gatling gun, giant fist, rescue via toy racetrack… you name it, Hal conjures it. And then there’s Ryan Reynolds, a man whose charm and comedic chops are able to elevate even the most substandard material. Cocky, boisterous and constantly at odds with his insecurities, his Hal Jordan is a far cry from the more straightforward character in the comics. Plus, he finds the time to sneak in an amusing vocal rendition of a certain caped crusader.

Reynolds is also supported by a worthy cast that includes Mark Strong (as authoritative fellow lantern Sinestro) and Peter Sarsgaard (as piteous villain Hector Hammond), but none of them get the amount of attention they deserve and herein lays Green Lantern’s most serious problem. The fact that it is immerged in such a vast mythology makes it hard to know which characters to juggle, something director Martin Campbell has clearly had to struggle with. As a result, fan favorite Kilowog only shows up for a brief training session, while fish lookalike Tomar Re is almost exclusively confined to voiceover duties. Worst of all, the mentor/student relationship between Hal and Sinestro from the comics is almost entirely absent in the film, which means the latter’s turn to the dark side in a hypothetical sequel will be void of some much needed pathos.

As of now, it is questionable whether that sequel will happen at all. But despite the negative backlash Green Lantern would benefit from a follow-up which boasts a sharper script whilst also expanding on the extended universe that was barely hinted at in this installment. This is one superhero that deserves to shine through blackest night.

3/5