Movie Review: The Green Hornet

The Green Hornet is the best movie-going experience I've had so far in 2011. Granted, it was the first movie I went and saw, but hey, it's still really fun. In case you don't know the story, Seth Rogen plays Britt Reid, the son of a prominent newspaper businessman (Tom Wilkinson). Britt Reid basically lies around all day and parties, but when his father dies (not a spoiler), he sees it as a wake-up call and decides to fight crime with his "executive associate" Kato (Jay Chou), who happens to be an amazing fighter. The plot is kind of a stretch, but to be honest, it doesn't really matter.
 

 Some of the dialogue is hit or miss, as per usual with Seth Rogen's improv-style dialogue tradition seemingly intact. Some of it's almost too self-referential, with lines like "It's unbelievable how amazing we are!", but it's all fun. And outside of the fight scenes (which are awesome), I would be hard pressed to tell you that this film was directed by Michel Gondry, who seems to have kept his directorial stamp at bay (for the better, probably). Christoph Waltz does a great job, making something out of nothing as a villain with no real motivation, except to be an intimidating villain. Cameron Diaz is serviceable as Lenore Case, and there's a pretty hilarious gag about her age.

 This movie was exactly what I expected it to be, so if you liked the trailers (as I did) than don't hesitate to lay down an extra $3 for 3D glasses. Or better yet, don't, if you can find it playing anywhere in 2D. The 3D was added post-production, which means they didn't film it with 3D in mind, but it still looks great, and a lot better than other so-called 3D films with 3D added late in the game (I'm looking at you, Clash of the Titans). Look out for a bearded Edward Furlong and (drumroll)..... James Franco, in the best cameo since Bill Murray in Zombieland.