The Incredible Hulk…Incredible, Indeed!

Thursday 7/17/2008

3 stars out of 4

By Dave Harris

I was one of the few kids in the late 1970's that regularly watched "The Incredible Hulk" TV show starring Bill Bixby and Lou Farrigno. Despite the superhero theme, it was an adult show with a surprisingly big female audience. I guess some kids, like me, just liked watching Dr. David Banner turn into the Hulk. As an adult, I've reacquainted myself with the show from the recent box set releases. It was a sophisticated program with solid drama, and not mindless action-packed material you may expect from a comic book hero.

Hollywood tried to resurrect the the green creature’s popularity in 2003, but it never caught on. I was somewhat disappointed, and bored, with Ang Lee's "Hulk". But the current version starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, among others is much better. It’s an entertaining take on the story of Dr. Bruce Banner's struggle to control his anger. The action sequences are fun and the special effects look great. My only criticism is the ending, which clearly suggests a sequel in the works. Don't get me wrong, as I’d love another Hulk movie like this. But I think a film should stand more on its own. I’m nit-picking, though.

Fans on the old TV show will get a kick out of the movie's select references. A student reporter, for example, is named Jack McGee. In another sequence, Edward Norton is watching Bill Bixby on TV from "The Courtship of Eddie’s Father". And Lou Ferrigno, who played the original Hulk in the 70's, has a small speaking role as a security guard. Ferrigno is still packed with muscle!

As for the main performers, Norton is a terrific actor. In this, it's not a stand out performance but Norton handles his part competently. Liv Tyler is believable as the love interest. But the real fun in this movie is the action, with the Hulk battling a monster you truly dislike.

Hollywood buzz suggests this film hasn’t grossed enough to warrant a sequel. That's a shame. I bet a lot of kids liked it. I'm thinking about how cool it would have been, as a kid in 1978, to see this movie and its sequels. But these days, opening weekend box office numbers rule the business. Modest profits make the studios angry, and you wouldn't like them when they're angry.

The Incredible Hulk is distributed by Universal Pictures, an area of NBC Universal 80% owned by General Electric (GE).

Dave Harris