Movie review: The Green Hornet ***

The Green Hornet ***

Stars: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz
Director: Michel Gondry
Rated: PG-13
Showing: Southside Cinema week of Friday, January 28 - daily at 7:30pm. For information about film times, call 297-2821.
Runtime: 108 minutes
Action/crime

This year is a dream come true for comic book geeks with a string of superhero movies hitting the big screen, including Thor, The Green Lantern, Sucker Punch and Captain America.

First up is The Green Hornet, inspired by the 1930s-50s radio show and 1960s TV series.

The fact it stars and was written by Seth Rogen, king of crude adolescent comedies such as Knocked Up and Superbad, should hint that this adaptation is more Kick-Ass than The Dark Knight.

It’s an irreverent superhero movie with as much comedy as action — something that has evoked the wrath of many fans.

Rogen takes the lead role of Britt Reid, a slacker playboy who becomes boss of a newspaper following the sudden death of his wealthy father.

He and his driver Kato (Jay Chou), a kung fu expert and gadget genius, decide to fight crime as the masked Green Hornet and sidekick.

Top of their hit list is crime boss Chudnofsky (Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds), who controls the city’s underworld. Will the crooks feel the sting of the Hornet?

Watch if you liked: Kick-Ass.