At the Movies with Fatwayne

Everyone is familiar with the Green Hornet regardless of age. If you didn’t hear it on the radio you may have read about the Hornet in the comic books or experienced the story in some other media. Well it’s out now on the big screen and in this incarnation it is a hoot.

There is a plethora of fights, car chases, one liners and villains, enough to satisfy most anyone. It is another one of those hard to believe situations al a Batman or Superman where a mask across the eyes or a pair of eyeglasses renders you unidentifiable. Be that as it may, this is a fun movie to experience.

Britt Reid (Seth Regen) plays the lead, an immature 28-year-old wealthy bum with nothing going for him except his father’s fame and fortune. This all changes when the father, James Reid (Tom Wilkinson) is murdered by persons unknown. Britt is so spoiled that he doesn’t even know (or care to know) his house staff, particularly who fixes his favorite cup of coffee each morning. He eventually meets his father’s mechanic, Kato (Jay Chou) and soon their friendship blossoms into a crime fighting partnership that will become known as the Green Hornet (and Kato).

We should all be grateful these two got together because Kato is the one who makes this movie fly. His dead pan demeanor and sometimes hard to understand but humorous quips will keep you laughing. He steals the scene every time he appears on screen. He also exhibits a penchant for the martial arts which saves the Hornet’s stinger more than once. Kato also possesses a talent to create unusual weapons like the gas gun we have all seen in the trailers. Funny stuff!

While Kato is likable from the moment we meet him, Britt is not so lucky. It takes about half of the film before he begins to allow us to warm up to him. Like Kato, Lenore “Casy” Case (Cameron Diaz) wins us over immediately. She plays the love interest of both Britt and Kato and is smart and capable. She is also vital to the success of this crime fighting team since they have no clue as to where to begin.

The main villain, Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz), is a Russian nutcase of a gangster. You may remember him as SS Colonel Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. He was exceptional and chilling in that performance and does not slow down a step this time out. In a word, he is magnetic. He gets more interesting and funny each time he makes an appearance in this film.

Take advantage of this “summer” blockbuster that we are lucky enough to enjoy in the dead of winter. You won’t be sorry.

Rated  – PG13  -

Fatwayne’s Rating  -  

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