The Green Hornet:Rated PG-13 (108 Minutes)Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Edward James Olmos, David Harbour Directed by: Michel Gondry
As one of the world’s earliest costumed superheroes (The Green Hornet debuted on the radio in 1936 — two years before Action Comics #1 introduced us to Superman), he, and his ever-present side-kick Kato (no not the one that was sponging of OJ), have finally made their modern-day big-screen appearance. To be sure, over the past 75 years, this “dynamic” duo have appeared in all forms of media from their humble origins on the radio to comic books (Gold Key, Harvey, Dell, NOW, and now Dynamite), Film serials, as well as a short lived TV series (perhaps most memorable as it starred Bruce Lee as Kato).
As can be expected, over the years they have gone through numerous reboots and interpretations (during WWII Kato’s Japanese heritage was played down and he was referred to as Korean, by way of the Philippines). Now as he is re-launched once more, he is brought into the modern age with (most) of his origin basically intact. He is still a good guy posing as a bad guy in order to catch criminals. What is different is that instead of the powerful head of an independent newspaper, he is the spoiled son of a powerful head of an independent newspaper who must come to grips with his playboy live and the recent death of his father.
As the son of James Reid (Tom Wilkinson), LA’s most prominent media magnate, who dies mysteriously, Britt (Rogen) inherits his father's vast empire, and well, that would probably have been the end of it except for him striking up an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more inventive employees, Kato (Chou). It is in Kato that Britt sees a chance to redeem himself reinventing himself to do something meaningful. Britt (who is something of a frat-boy doofus) allows himself to be lead/supported by the very capable Kato as they transform themselves into a pair of masked crime fighters. Kato builds them some wicked-cool high-tech toys including an indestructible car, a gas gun, and some other cool weapons. The Green Hornet and Kato quickly make a name for themselves.
Once he becomes the Hornet in earnest, ands assumes a day-to-day role in the running of his father’s (now his) newspaper Britt hires a secretary Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), and utilizes her very capable talents to begin his crime-fighting career. As can be expected, because of the presence of Rogen as both star and co-writer, the film is something a tad less serious than it has been in the past. In fact, it has been pointed out that back when they were both on TV Green Hornet was serious (if camp), and Batman was straight-up silly. Now that they are both on the silver screen, Batman is deadly serious while the Hornet is to be viewed tongue-in-cheek.
Still, even though this has taken some hits from fans as to ist’ less than serious nature, it is actually still quite a good film and holds up well under viewing. Sure it is somewhat disconcerting seeing Kato as the more capable of the two, perhaps it can be view as both poetic justice and karma as in the past he was always seen as merely the helper because of his race. Hopefully, the numbers and enjoyment on this fill will prove to earn it a sequel where some of this can be sorted out in later iterations.
Robert J. Sodarohas been writing professionally for over 30 years. During that time, his movie reviews and articles have appeared in numerous publications, as well as on the web.
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