Universal President Ron Meyer has called The Wolfman one of the worst films the studio ever put out, which seems a bit harsh - possibly one of the most disappointing for them considering the amount of money they foolishly kept pouring into production and the amount of interference they caused. With the endless reshoots and retooling this film had, it seemed like every executive took a crack at it and the Universal janitorial staff probably had more creative control than Joe Johnston. Studio meddling aside, The Wolfman plays surprisingly well. The makeup effects are top notch, the period design is stylish and beautifully theatrical and while it's not scary for a moment, it's playfully gory. The CG is uneven, with digital backgrounds and digital wolf effects occasionally unconvincing. Benicio del Toro gives a passable, understated performance, Anthony Hopkins hams things up as usual and Emily Blunt is a bore to watch. The film's romantic angle with Blunt is forced and she and del Toro have no chemistry. With all its troubled production and post production, this is hardly a disaster and while not an outright success, The Wolfman is a worthy remake of a classic monster.
Review of The Wolfman
