I, Frankenstein - D

Rated PG-13, 100 minutes

"I, Frankenstein" a mildly entertaining mess of a movie

Aaron Eckhart

Generally, when movies don't screen in advance, that's a troubling sign, add in a January release date and you have a recipe for a terrible film. "I, Frankenstein" comes close: it's a hot mess of a movie, a little all over the place, but is peppered with some fun visuals and entertaining, fast-paced moments. Based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux (who also plays the Michael Clarke Duncan-lookalike head of security for the bad guy in the movie), it's set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Adam Frankenstein (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality. Directed and written by Stuart Beattie ("G.I. Rise of Cobra"), "I, Frankenstein" reinvents the famed monster as a Van Helsing-style, muscled up, faded jeans-wearing demon booty kicker, and while that isn't necessarily a bad idea, a decent story (honestly, I didn't know what was really going on most of the time) would've helped to go with the mostly serviceable but overused special effects. Less of the CG and more of the always fun Bill Nighy, who plays another terrific bad guy and isn't onscreen near enough but is still the most memorable part of the movie, would've helped tremendously. The blandish Eckhart, known to most as playing a secondary character in one of Nolan's Christopher Nolan "Dark Knight" series, seems overwhelmed by it all, though he shows skill in kicking some serious demon booty. "I, Frankenstein" is a borderline awful, mildly enjoyable (in a cultish sort of way) but chaotic and muddled movie that will appeal mostly to the fan boy set, who may appreciate this sort of thing the most.

Wes's Grade: D