The Incredible Hulk.

Review #1211: The Incredible Hulk.

Cast: 
Edward Norton (Bruce Banner), Liv Tyler (Betty Ross), Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky), William Hurt (General 'Thunderbolt' Ross), Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns), Ty Burrell (Leonard), Christina Cabot (Major Kathleen Sparr), Peter Mensah (General Joe Greller), and Lou Ferrigno (Voice of The Incredible Hulk) Directed by Louis Leterrier.

Review:
It feels strange to finally cover this film. In light of Avengers: Endgame serving as the culmination of over a decade of Marvel films - 22 in all, it only makes sense to review the only other film I haven't done. In any case, I hope you enjoy.

In a way, the true tragedy of this film is not so much the nature of Bruce Banner and the beast that lurks inside him when prone to anger. Really, it is the fact that this film seems to stick out as some sort of oddball (near black sheep) film within the Marvel Studios run of films. Oh sure, the Hulk has made further appearances in other Marvel movies in the years since (without Norton), but it seems striking to how a sequel did not manage to transpire for this feature while other heroes managed to inspire future solo adventures (this can be attributed in part due to the rights that Universal Studios has with Hulk in regards to distribution for standalone features). In effect, the film does seem to stick out like a sore thumb from the others in some of its approaches with its narrative that makes for a decent but not particularly standout movie. It was released a month after Iron Man while being five years after Hulk (2003). I'm not too particularly familiar with that film, nor the previous 1970s television series with Bruce Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, but I do have a basic understanding of the Hulk, and at least it can be said that one doesn't really need to worry about not knowing every little thing about a hero. The script (originally done by Zak Penn while having re-writes from Norton) certainly seems a bit jammed in exactly what it want to be - verging between a thriller/monster movie and typical comic action flair. It does okay with both tones, but it could be seen as forgettable for others with less patience. Leterrier, commenting on the film years later in an interview, stated that a movie is "...a sum of compromises until you grow into your own independence. I always try to bring the character and the actor forward. It’s very obvious in The Incredible Hulk. The first half of the movie is really mine and the second half is the studio’s expected Hulk movie — two giants kicking each other’s ass.” Make of that what you will.

It isn't exactly a crowd-pleaser type of movie (minus the big action spectacle at the end, of course), but at least it doesn't try to spend too much time on the origin story, going from Banner to Hulk in the span of 25 minutes. It certainly tries to make sure you won't be waiting for the Hulk to show up with too much impatience. The run-time served as a conflict between Leterrier, Norton, and the producers, with the former preferring a run-time of 135 while the latter and their argument won out with their time of 112 minutes (one notable omission involved an alternate opening in the Arctic, for example). Norton makes a fine Banner for the most part, but the film seems a bit lost in making him seem like an actual hero. Something just seems missing between him being the Hulk when he's angry to being someone you could see doing things as part of a bigger thing. The chemistry between him and Tyler (in a fairly subdued performance doesn't really click all together either, seeming a bit too subdued to make any real lasting drama. It is nice to see Roth, but he can't really make this adversary feel particularly threatening. The stakes just seem a bit too low even with two big beasts hammering each other, really. It didn't need earth-shaking stakes to drive up suspense, but something that inspires us to care a bit more than just the standard "gee, I sure hope the big guy doesn't lose to the other big guy". It is nice to see Ferrigno voice the Hulk, at least. Hurt is gruff for the course, which isn't exactly an insult. Nelson shows up for a limited amount of time, showing brief spurts of energy despite really being there just to further the plot a bit and not much else. It is a movie that has decent effects, and the character design on the Hulk looks right for the time. The climax (done in the night, naturally) seems a bit tacked on with its battle (owing to the small stakes), but at least it left the door open for future possibilities involving this character without feeling like an insult - which is for the best. It doesn't really compare too well to the first batch of comic book movies in Marvel Studios' run, but it has its own merits and reasons to give it a shot, edging itself into curiosity with some fair touches of drama and action to headline an imperfect but adequate movie.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.