Incredible Hulk Movie Review

Compared to its siblings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this film feels a bit like a stepchild. It has none of the vibrant colors, jokes are few and far between, and in supreme heresy, it doesn’t feature the much beloved Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / the Hulk. However, it still does have a lot to offer.

Directed by Louis Leterrier, this is a movie that takes the well-known backstory and runs with it. Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) tries a experiment on himself that goes very wrong. He gains a power that turns him into a giant green rage monster whenever his pulse goes over 200. The military wants to capture him so they can use the powers as a weapon, while his love Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) attempts to cure him and is dragged into the fray along with him.

This is a big, loud movie with some very impressive action sequences. Besides the Hulk fighting in various locales around New York, there’s an exciting space fight, and the usual shots of famous landmarks both real and unreal. There are also a number of references to classic movies that are not uncommon in a superhero movie; a scene in the lab that recalls “King Kong,” Banner’s flashbacks of being on an “acid trip” that are reminiscent of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and a touch of Gen. Jack D. Ripper in General Ross that is a nod to “Citizen Kane.”

The main problem with this movie is that there isn’t much heroism on display. Sure, the military is a villain and they are trying to use the Hulk’s powers against them, but there’s no sense of true heroism on display here. Then there’s the fact that the Hulk is often a little too big to be completely believable. He looks jerky in long shots, and the CGI isn’t quite as good as what’s seen in other modern movies.

Fortunately, the rest of the cast makes up for this. Ed Norton is great as Banner, conveying the intensity of his character with his voice and body language alone. Then there’s Tim Roth as the bad guy, and he has a way of going toe-to-toe with the Hulk that is both scary and compelling. Ultimately, this is an entertaining summer popcorn flick that could have been much better if it had focused more on the heroism and less on the spectacle. It is a movie that is worth seeing, but it’s not one of the best MCU movies out there.