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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
 Starring Edward Norton, William Hurt; Directed by Louis Leterrier
Why has the Hulk returned? Mostly to slot him into the same Marvel universe as other superheroes, spawn an avalanche of serum-induced franchises, and sell a few more action figures.
Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, is still searching for a cure to rid himself of the beast within. A minor accident alerts General Ross, who wants his blood to create a legion of Hulk-styled super-soldiers; and before you can say ‘You won’t like me when I’m angry’, a second Hulk is supercharged for action. He’s bad, of course, so who’ll save New York? Why am I asking the question?
Trying to please a pantheon of Hulk fans, comic geeks and Marvel stalwarts has set Leterrier up for a mighty fall. He finds an amiable tone and ticks off a list of must-do’s: cameos by TV’s Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, plus a running gag about stretchy pants. It’s cute for a while, but quickly dissolves in a silly sea of rampant digital effects.
Liv Tyler’s thanklessly formula femme-in-distress, and Norton’s struggling performance don’t help proceedings. It doesn’t help matters that Hulk looks like a refugee from his own video game. Not that The Incredible Hulk is all bad; there’s passable entertainment in the valiant struggle. However, when he moans to be left alone, it’s distressing to realise that no one ever listens.
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