Color me “surprised” in regards to Brett Ratner’s Hercules, an unexpectedly thrilling, smart and at times moving new take on
everyone’s favorite demigod. It goes
without saying that they got off on the right foot by casting Dwayne Johnson in
the title role but what’s most surprising is the intelligence found in the
adaptation of Steve Moore’s Radical Comics mini-series by Ryan Condal and Evan
Spiliotopoulos. Far more than just a sword
and sandal saga, the film casts its hero not as the son of Zeus, but rather as
a mortal whose feats of derring-do have been so exaggerated that the only
explanation for these exploits is that Hercules must be part deity to
accomplish them, a reputation he struggles to uphold.
After a brief recap of Hercules’ 12 labors, which
regrettably did not include the sight of the he-man cleaning the Augean
stables, Ratner quickly introduces us to the main players and drops us into the
middle of the action. Seems that Hercules took to wandering after doing his
penance and along the way, assembled about him a band of orphans and
misfits. They include Amphiaraus (Ian
McShane), a warrior prophet whose provides comic relief when predictions of his
own demise prove wrong; Autolycus (Rufus Sewell), a loyal friend handy with flying
daggers whose interest in money outweighs all; Tydeus (Aksel Hennie), a mute
warrior found as an infant whose loyalty to Hercules is unwavering; Atalanta
(Ingrid Bolso Berdal) the fierce archer of Greek myth and Iolaus (Reece
Ritchie), a master storyteller who’s most responsible for spreading the word
concerning his uncle Hercules’ feats and blowing them out of proportion as
well.
Together, these six are a formidable group whose services
are available to the highest bidder and they are commissioned by Lord Cotys
(John Hurt) who’s having a problem with rogue invaders led by the sorcerer
Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann). He’s ravaged the good king’s kingdom, leaving him
an army of inexperienced farmers to protect the realm. Seems this despot is about to deliver the
killing blow, so Hercules and his crew are hired to protect the kingdom as well
as train what’s left of the army in the fine art of killing.
The premise is taken directly from Kurosawa’s The Seven
Samurai and because it’s so familiar, Ratner wastes little time setting it up
or dispensing with the requisite training scenes, all of which is done with economy
and humor. The director has never been
given his due, primarily because most of his films are seen as throwaway
vehicles. However, most of what he’s done has been highly entertaining (Rush
Hour, Tower Heist) and occasionally moving (The Family Man) qualities
evident here that help elevate this among the usual action fare.
While the plot holds
little in the way of surprises, the formidable cast gives it their all, at
times attacking it as if it were a piece of Shakespearean court intrigue. Johnson holds his own, especially when called
upon to display the grief and guilt his character feels over the death of his
family while McShane and Sewell are of particular note, knowing just when to
nudge a joke for a laugh or pull back to tug at our hearts.
Imaginative battle sequences, a good plot twist and a
dynamic conclusion deliver more than enough thrills to satisfy even the most
jaded action fan. However, it’s the way
the themes of loyalty, honor and heroism are played out that make Hercules more than a simple summer time waster.
These lessons are rendered in the most sincere manner and lend a gravity
to the film that suits it well, as this tale of a man who realizes heroic deeds
can be god-like in nature will only nurture the legend of Hercules all the
more.
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2014.
