Constantine

Review by Jason Gaston

Keanu Reeves is Constantine, a supernatural detective and exorcist who "deports" demons back to hell when they get out of line. Constantine, you see, is a man walking a thin line between good and evil since he's bound for Hell after he dies and is told that no matter what he does, he's going to end up there anyway.

But when he comes to the aid of a grieving cop investigating her twin sister's suicide, Constantine discovers that the son of Satan is going to make a play on the Earth and only Constantine can stop him and save all of mankind!

In my opinion, Constantine should have been a much simpler movie, but in an attempt to make itself seem like it is more intelligent or more thought-provoking than it actually is, the movie is mired in an overly heavy screenplay and a meandering story that overcomplicates itself and brings its own self down into a burning pit of its own.

Why pretend you're something you're not? Why, Hollywood? Why!?

That's not saying that it's a bad movie. When it's doing its thing and gets over itself, Constantine is actually pretty entertaining and witty. I guess that if you can stomach the Hell that is Constantine's murk and muddle, it's quite fun when it gets moving.

The movie is a fantastic looking with its film noir feel and some pretty impressive special effects. The acting ranges from serviceable to downright hammy. Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz do passable jobs in their respective roles while Peter Stormare, who plays Satan, practically unhinges his jaw and swallows the entire set rather than just settle for chewing the scenery.

Constantine is over the top but that's forgivable for a comic book movie. Constantine has some pretty imaginative action sequences, some clever plot elements, and some great effects. The downside is that these elements only comprise half the movie. The other half is dour, boring, and over-important.

But hey, I didn't hate it. I actually enjoyed Constantine more than I thought I would. Overall, I'd say that if you want to give this movie a shot... go for it. It's the first big-budget movie of 2005 that would call acceptable to say the least.

Not bad... not bad at all.