Despite lackluster romantic chemistry and self-depreciating special effects, an attractive cast, excellent writing, and just the right amount of cheese shines together in time to save Green Lantern from it’s greatest fear: bombing the box-office. The film is a refreshing change from the usual cynicism of contemporary film, a rarely enjoyable experience due uniquely to its goodness in nature, something most filmmakers have been out of touch with for quite a while. The central plot revolves around the fight between light and dark, represented by the power of “will” and “fear,” a perspective rarely done in film.
In general, Green Lantern presents itself well. Although some performances leave little to the imagination, the movie’s casting for look-a-like talent is spot-on, and its volley between immaturity and seriousness are clear triumphs. However, the real victory of Green Lantern is in its humor — this movie is never lacking in clever one-liners that keep an audience chuckling. Add that to a proven winner of a story plot and who could go wrong?
The truth is, there were so many opportunities for this movie to go down like a brand new F-35 in a test crash that I found myself transfixed, waiting for the imminent, cringe-inducing catastrophe. If I may say so, this movie was asking for it; allow me to count the ways:
Had the writers forgotten that many Green Lantern fans are old enough to remember the films “Hot Shots” or “Top Gun” (however vaguely), the fighter pilot scene at the beginning of the movie would have been an excuse for a walk-out. Any film that resembles itself to an eighties Tom Cruise movie or a spoof staring Charlie Sheen ought to go down in smoke. However, it did not — the movie stubbornly survived the context, brushed itself off, and struck its most serious and intriguing Magnum pose. Corny references made to super heroes always “getting the girl” along with scenes involving dying purple aliens would have been embarrassing in less capable hands; my kudos to the writers.
Prudently, Green Lantern never claimed any superiority over special effects and those involved were right not to, as they were clearly not the great Avatar of the summer blockbusters. Nevertheless, they still made the CGI believable, while winning me over with subtle details such as the constant pulsation of light in the Green Lantern suits and the marvelously nifty iris lightening/eye-color changing effects. These were facets that the Lantern fan in me relished in rapturous delight.
Another potential for devastatingly low ticket sales might have been casting. Despite being new to the super hero genre, Ryan Reynolds pulled off the greatest masquerade of the year in his role as Hal Jordan. The fantastically classic, but self-important Green Lantern Oath could have been his downfall, yet Reynolds walked the line — shaky and emaciated though it was — and did not fail to surprise and impress me. In fact, it gave me faith in the vibrant glow of Green Lantern’s will.
Though Reynolds plays his role of the newest recruit into the Lantern Corps with style, the romance between Hal Jordan and his love interest Carol Ferris is practically nonexistent. The fault, however, may lie more with his co-star Blake Lively, who seems to draw on her TV drama past rather than exude the poise and power necessary of the Silver Screen. Her efforts as Ferris seem paltry and exhausting to watch in comparison to the capability of her supporting cast: actors such as Angela Basset, Temuera Morrison, Tim Robbins, and Peter Sarsgaard. All put in an appreciated effort, along with Mark Strong and Taika Waititi who portrayed convincing Sinestros and Thomas Kalmakus respectively. Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan performed magnificently as Tomar-Re and Kilowog’s voice actors, creating deep, juicy personalities that carried over onto the screen as true representations of their characters.
Overall, this movie could have taken itself too seriously or not seriously enough. On either side, the line is hard to draw, but Green Lantern held its own; in fact it scoffed and braved the challenge head-on, in true Lantern style. In brightest day, in blackest night, I’ll watch Ryan Reynolds without a fight. Regardless the sequel that enters my sight, I’ll accept him as Green Lantern‘s Light.