Hellboy II: The Golden Army film review

certificate_12A

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

The absurdist sight of the red, devilish Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his aquatic pal Abe (Doug Jones) sitting by the fireside, drinking beer and listening to Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You," seems more like a scene from Monty Python's Flying Circus than a superhero movie. Then again, Hellboy is hardly your conventional superhero. But what made the cat-loving, cigar-smoking romantic a refreshing change in the 2004 original no longer surprises, with the result Hellboy II: The Golden Army is less gratifying.

All the essential players have returned, including writer/director Guillermo del Toro, who has ratcheted up the humour to a point where at times it verges on farce. Having some laughs is always good to contrast with a story's darker elements, but here the balance has tipped so much in favor of whimsy that it's hard to ever take seriously the film's more dramatic moments. Once the novelty of encountering an uncouth, egotistical bully of a superhero with horns, a tail, a sensitive side and a dynamite right hook has subsided, then it helps if there's a compelling story. Hellboy II is blessed with the former, but sadly lacks the latter.

Beginning in 1944, we meet the young Hellboy as he's read a bedtime story by his guardian Professor Buttenholm (John Hurt), who runs the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. The story involves a Golden Army who, upon threatening to wipeout mankind and takeover the world, are rendered dormant by their ruler. Having been quieted for centuries, they lie in wait, ready to be reactivated by whoever pieces together the special crown. When the young Hellboy inquires if the story's true, the Professor replies with a knowing smile.

Jumping forward, we meet the now very grown-up Hellboy as he is being chastised by his B.P.R.D. boss Manning (Jeffrey Tambor) for his lack of discretion. His fondness for the limelight has drawn too much attention to the Bureau and its bizarre collection of agents, including Abe and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), who has the propensity to erupt into flames at will. When an auction house selling ancient artifacts is attacked by a host of ferocious creatures led by Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), the Bureau and Hellboy are brought in and discover the Prince's plan to find the crown and awaken the Golden Army.