Mixing computer animation and live action has never worked.
Not so far, anyway.
And in “The Hulk” it doesn’t work again.
The funny thing appears to be that the emergence of cheaper, but still good, special effects made possible by computers has, as often happens, resulted in mistrust of live actors.
Nothing new there. Casting has always been considered the most hazardous part of film making. Get the right cast, and a myriad of other problems can be, and often are, completely ignored by audiences.
But cast one part wrong, and the whole movie can flop, as John Wayne’s “North to Alaska” did when they cast Fabian instead of an actor.
But unlike most superhero comic book movies, with “The Hulk,” when you have seen the previews, you have not seen the movie.
This is one picture that is far better than its trailer.
One reason, and it is a big one, is the script. This photoplay takes time for character, subtlety, conflict — all the things usually missing from today’s action pictures. And the live actors are just right.
You don’t want to miss Nick Nolte, for example.
And the other characters are well rounded, fully dimensioned people. Wow.
There is still a structural conflict between live action and CGI computer scripted folks. The Hulk himself is awfully well done, but he is still a cartoon. The only movie where this ever worked was Roger Rabbit, but the story there was dependent upon and made use of the same structural conflict.
All in all, “The Hulk” is a surprise winner.
Unlike “Alex and Emma” where Kate Hudson does her best in a disappointing story: dumb, dull, and stagy.
Come on, Hollywood! Give this girl something worth doing.
Luke Wilson is just fine. If only there were some real chemistry between Wilson and Hudson, and if only Levin had relied more on Dostoevsky (who wrote the story the picture is based upon) — but there isn’t, and he didn’t.
Even director Rob Reiner falls short, rather too obviously imitating his own “When Harry Met Sally.”
So: for the new picture, see “The Hulk” even if you don’t like that kind of picture. You may be surprised, especially if you can get used to the computerized big guy.
Or, if you haven’t yet, see “Little Nemo” and take a kid.
And watch out for “Bend It Like Beckham” coming back, this time to the Sunrise.
E-mail Chappell at jchappell@thepilot.com
