CHAD’S GRADE: C+
In 2008, the burgeoning Marvel Studios was off to a fantastic start with Iron Man. Released in May, Iron Man was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike, grossing a domestic take of $318 million. Marvel was eager for more and wasted no time in getting their follow-up film in theatres.
It’s no surprise that they chose the Incredible Hulk as their next film. Outside of Spiderman, the Hulk was the most well-known Marvel property to which they still owned development rights (more on that later). If you were a child of the late 70’s chances are you watched the popular CBS TV series starring Bill Bixby as “David” Banner with Lou Ferrigno as his “hulked” alter ego.
And there’s the now notorious 2003 “Hulk” feature directed by Ang Lee. Universal coaxed Lee, who was hot off the success of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” to produce a monster Frankenstein take of the property. Hoping to capitalize on the auteur strategy that worked with Bryan Singer on X-Men and Christopher Nolan on Batman, Lee instead delivered a film that baffled just about everyone. Starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, and Sam Elliot, it’s a deeply weird, fever dream of a movie that deserves its own review.
But Marvel was emboldened by the success of Iron Man, and in June of 2008, they released their more streamlined version called The Incredible Hulk. Directed by French filmmaker Louis Leterrier, who was most well-known for the first two Transporter films, the movie stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, William Hurt as General Ross, and Tim Roth as the villainous Emil Blonsky.
After a brief prologue showing scientists Bruce Banner and Betty Ross doing “gamma” based experiments in the lab to replicate a failed “super soldier” program, Banner transforms into the powerful Hulk. Betty Ross is hospitalized, and Banner goes on the run, now pursued by Ross’s father, General “Thunderbolt” Ross, who views Banner and his experiments as the property of the U.S. Army.
Dodging the army at every turn, Banner is desperately searching for a cure to his condition, where any heightened emotion that ups his heartbeat transforms him into a green, rage filled monster. Banner begins conversing with another scientist called “Mr. Blue,” whom he meets online. When General Ross nearly captures Banner in Brazil, Banner decides to return to the states to meet Mr. Blue in person, in hopes of developing an antidote to rid the monster within.
Meanwhile, General Ross enlists eager Emil Blonsky, one of the few remaining soldiers to face the Hulk and live to tell the tale. Blonsky agrees to be injected with an alternate version of the “super-soldier” serum, where he gains increased speed, agility, and strength. But this altered version begins to transform Blonsky into something more heinous and monstrous. An Abomination, if you will, that only the Hulk can stop.
Norton was key in developing the property, acting as an associate producer, and doing daily rewrites on the film’s script. Norton was aiming for a cerebral, psychological version of the character. But Marvel and Universal were still smarting from the Ang Lee debacle and demanded a more mainstream film, aiming for the crowd-pleasing style that worked so well with Iron Man. The zigzag approach hurt the film’s tone, resulting in a mediocre take on one of Marvel’s more unique superhero concepts.
Marvel was playing it safe, and the movie embraces the fugitive aspect of the TV show. In fact, it plays like a film version of the show, even using visual elements like the green eye glow during Banner’s first transformation. Director Leterrier tries to squeeze out tension from the plodding narrative, following Banner as he evades capture, and teases out the Hull’s appearance by keeping him in the shadows.
Once Banner agrees to return to the states and meet the mysterious “Mr. Blue,” the story finally kicks into gear. The movie has one standout set piece, where Thunderbolt’s forces ambush Banner at the Culver University campus where he’s contacted Betty. Beautifully shot by Leterrier, Banner transforms into the Hulk shrouded in tear gas. A kinetic sequence follows where the Hulk goes into full berserker mode, tearing through Ross’s forces like plastic toys. And it’s here where the visual effects shine, showing the Hulk as a rage-filled force of nature. And a vast improvement over Ang Lee’s more blob-like creature design.
The odd casting is the biggest culprit in derailing the film. Edward Norton is a fine actor, but he seems terribly out of place here. He never channels the inner turmoil of trying to contain the beast within and plays a very dull reactive character. Liv Tyler has a warm presence but can’t do much with the underwritten “girlfriend” role. And William Hurt is downright awful as General “Thunderbolt” Ross, overplaying the cliché military caricature in every scene.
Only Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky seems to be having any fun. After witnessing the raw power of the Hulk, you can see Blonsky relish the idea of taking a serum that will make him his equal. And Roth channels that thirst for power as he makes his monstrous transformation into the Abomination.
The movie was clearly written with sequels in mind. Tim Blake Nelson makes a late appearance in the film as Samuel Sterns, A.K.A. Mr. Blue, a fellow scientist sympathetic to Banner’s plight. Eagle-eyed readers of the Hulk comic know that Sterns will transform into the villainous “Leader.” During the film’s climactic battle, Banner’s gamma-infused blood pours into Stern’s open head wound, clearly setting up a potential second chapter.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), the film’s lackluster box office cooled off any sequel talk. And Disney’s acquisition of Marvel in 2009 complicated the rights to the character. Thanks to a ridiculously convoluted contract with Universal, Marvel has “creative” rights to the character, where Universal has “distribution” rights. This means that the Hulk character can appear in the Marvel universe films, but Universal would get to release the picture if they wanted to release a solo Hulk film. And Disney does not like (or need) to share. Which explains why there has never been a sequel starring Mark Ruffalo’s superior take on the character.
MCU WORLD BUILDING:
This is the least referenced of all the Marvel Universe films, mainly since Edward Norton’s was recast in 2012’s Avengers. Still, Stark Industries and a War World II “super soldier” program are mentioned, which will be explored in the first Captain America film. And Agent Coulson, who would pop up in Iron Man 2, Thor, and The Avengers, is missing in action here. But William Hurt’s General Thunderbolt Ross did reappear in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and last year’s Avengers: Infinity War as the newly promoted Secretary of State.
WHERE’S STAN?
In one of the few cameos that actually propel the plot, Lee plays a hapless victim drinking a gamma-infested soda from the bottle factory where Banner is working, which tips off his location to General Ross. It’s a genuinely humorous appearance and the only funny moment in this otherwise dour film.
BONUS CAMEOS:
Edward Norton’s Banner, in disguise as a pizza deliveryman, bribes a very hungry campus security guard played by the TV Hulk himself, Lou Ferringo. Also, when Banner is flipping TV channels, a clip of “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” is shown, which starred the late Bill Bixby, the original Banner from the TV show. Bill Bixby passed away in 1993.
POST CREDITS TEASER:
This is one of the few teasers shown before the credits causing the movie to end on a strange note. General Ross sits at a bar getting drunk as the familiar shadow of Tony Stark enters. The snarky tone between the pair reveals the combative nature of their relationship. But Stark mentions that Ross has a problem and that he’s putting a “team” together. This foreshadows the original plot of the first Avengers movie, which would follow the ultimate comics storyline where the Avengers battle the Hulk on their first mission. The storyline was jettisoned once Joss Whedon came on board to write and direct the first Avengers film in 2012.