Louis Leterrier, The Incredible Hulk

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

by Kathryn Durfee
06/17/2008

In 2003, Ang Lee unleashed Hulk to poor reviews and disappointed audiences. It therefore seems a little odd that Marvel would try to resuscitate the franchise just five years later but lo and behold, they have. Though Louis Leterrier's film The Incredible Hulk doesn't deserve to be called incredible, it still makes for a thoughtful summer action film.

Anyone who paid attention to movie news before The Incredible Hulk's opening this past weekend will remember that the biggest buzz surrounding the film was concentrated on the supposed frequent blow-outs between Marvel Studios and the film's star Edward Norton. For a little bit of backstory, Norton initially turned down the role but eventually signed on when Marvel agreed to hire a screenwriter to retool the script.

A new screenwriter was never hired, so Norton took on the job himself and did a page-one rewrite. He couldn't make any drastic changes since he started the rewrites just two months before the film began shooting and sets were already being built, but he did add more dialogue and character motivation. However, when Marvel put together the rough cut, the studio decided that they wanted a shorter, more action-packed film and discarded much of Norton's work (his version would have run almost 2 1/2 hours).

So, what are we left with? The Incredible Hulk is a different sort of comic book movie, mainly because the Hulk story made for a different kind of comic book. Hulk isn't a superhero, and The Incredible Hulk isn't an origin story.

Through images played during the title sequence, we are shown the basic story we already know: Bruce Banner (Norton) was doing research for the Army under the supervision of Gen. Ross (William Hurt) and dating fellow scientist and Ross's daughter Betty (Liv Tyler). An experiment with gamma went terribly wrong, and Banner became something, well, incredible.

Now a fugitive, he lives in a Brazilian slum and works at a soda bottling plant. He spends his free time learning to manage his anger and keep his heart rate down while he tries to find a cure for what is inside him. But when his whereabouts are discovered, Banner must go on the run from Ross's team of hunters, lead by Agent Blosky (Tim Roth), a slimy-looking individual with a crazy look in his eye that instantly tells you he's going to be Hulk's nemesis.

The Incredible Hulk is more character-driven than most action hero and comic book movies and is made more effective by the expert casting of Norton in the lead. Norton perfectly captures the thoughtful and intelligent side of Banner, but could have brought a little more energy to the role. I understand that Banner can't get his heart rate up, but that doesn't mean he has to stay so sedate in his human form. He is shown suffering Christlike one too many times; the pain and fear that flashes across his face when his eyes grow green becomes as repetitive and tiresome as Gen. Ross's cigar smoking. Overall, Norton brings the quiet determination necessary to make Bruce Banner a man with whom audiences can identify. He doesn't want to be Hulk; he can't get too excited (a point made all too clear when he can't go through with having sex with Betty), he is forced to live in hiding, and he's consumed by the desire to get rid of the big green guy inside.

Liv Tyler's Betty pouts and coos at Bruce in perfect sympathetic girlfriend fashion. The only problem there is that she's no longer his girlfriend. Does anyone else feel bad for her current beau? She also brings back the Daddy issues of Lee's 2003 version by frequently screaming at Gen. Ross. She's disgusted by his treatment of Banner and his desire to use the Hulk power to create a race of super soldiers, which, by the way, would be a disaster. With Banner running around as Hulk and then Blonsky turning into the Abomination, Gen. Ross ends up with hundreds of dead soldiers on his hands but apparently no repercussions. Does he have to answer to anyone for this mess?

What sets Hulk apart from most of his Marvel counterparts is his lack of control over his powers. When Betty asks Bruce what it feels like to make the transformation, he replies that Hulk "isn't me." Whereas most comic book heroes are interesting because they provide viewers and readers with the opportunity to see ordinary people struggle with the discovery and possession of extraordinary powers, Hulk and Bruce Banner remain two separate entities. By saying Hulk is a different creature rather than the other side of Banner, our lead is released of any sort of responsibility for Hulk's actions. Clark Kent and Peter Parker struggle to balance their quiet professional lives with saving crime, Bruce Wayne uses his alter-ego to right the wrongs in Gotham City, and Tony Stark is trying to make up for spending his life creating weapons of mass destruction. And then there's Bruce Banner. Not only is his identity not a mystery, he doesn't use his power for any real positive means. Yes, he eventually battles what Blonsky becomes (The Abomination), but that's just an excuse to show off special effects and blow things up.

This is to say that the weakest points of The Incredible Hulk are those that feature Hulk himself. When he first appears through clouded night vision goggles, his mass and green tinge are delightfully creepy. However, his big square head and shaggy hair (why isn't it the same color as Banner's?) soon fills the screen too often, growling into our faces and then tearing cars in half and throwing them around. His size is inconsistent, though I'm told this is a factor of how angry he is, and all I could think about was how hard it must be to go through life never knowing when you're going to need a new pair of elastic-waisted pants.

After one last Christlike sacrifice, Banner voluntarily becomes Hulk for the final battle sequence against The Abomination. A lot of buildings and cars are destroyed, and we are all forced to marvel at the supposedly dazzling special effects. Though long and full of flashy explosions, this battle does not compare to that of last month's Iron Man. Featuring essentially the same set-up (the original and a copy), Iron Man succeeds because the characters are fully aware of who they are and what they are doing. Here, we've just got two huge powerful guys duking it out. Even though Leterrier tries to show us the sensitive side of Hulk by putting a few sparkles in his eyes, it's hard to see the human under all of those rippling green muscles.

The Incredible Hulk is a lot better than what Hollywood is currently offering audiences, but it's not great. The interesting and thoughtful drama of Banner's battle against what's inside him is unfortunately lost beneath a big green guy who speaks in monosyllables ("Hulk! Smash!") and Marvel's desires to prove that Hulk's story isn't a box office dud. If a great comic book movie is what you're looking for, go see Iron Man again while you wait for The Dark Knight.

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