47 Ronin - C-

Rated PG-13, 127 minutes

Handsome, action-packed "47 Ronin" underwhelms

Keanu Reeves

The long-awaited, fantastical take on the legend of Japanese samurai, "47 Ronin" starring Keanu Reeves, is a handsomely mounted production peppered with some decent fight scenes but hampered by a muddled, tepid story and acting, particularly another wooden performance from its star. The outcast Kai (Keanu Reeves), illegitimate son of a British sailor and a Japanese peasant woman, joins a group of Ronin, led by Kuranosuke Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), who seeks vengeance on Lord Kira (Tadanobo Asano), a ruthless man who killed their master and banished the group. The Ronin embark on a journey with challenges that would defeat most warriors. A mildly entertaining but underwhelming, tepid take on a Japanese legend, "47 Ronin" is a Christmas-time disappointment that will likely be Universal's biggest flop in sometime, throwing some $200 million in a film that first started principal photography in early 2011. Directed by Carl Erik Rinsch ("The Gift") and co-written by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini, it was delayed to finish updates to add 3D (it's also playing in 2D) along with some reshoots, though neither really helps the film. The CG visuals, photography and colorful costumes are handsome and some of the fight scenes are serviceably entertaining, but otherwise it has little going for it, adding some giants creatures and witches (Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi, the most memorable of the cast) to make up for the thin storyline and Reeves, who gives his worst performance in ages as the half-breed samurai, making it even more difficult to buy into this. "47 Ronin" is a bit of a mess, but it could be fun in the right moment, though it will be difficult to turn a profit off such a huge budget. This one is a rental, and you might not have to wait too long to do so.

Wes's Grade: C-