“We’re big on irony around here.” —The Caretaker
Today’s quick review: Ghost Rider. As a young man, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) sells his soul to the Devil (Peter Fonda) to save his dying father. Years later, Johnny has a successful career as a motorcycle daredevil but remains haunted by his choice. Finally, when he is about to rekindle his relationship with Roxy Simpson (Eva Mendes), the Devil comes to collect, transforming Johnny into his skeletal bounty hunter: the Ghost Rider.
Ghost Rider is an action horror superhero movie based on the Marvel comics. Nicolas Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a possessed biker tasked with keeping the Devil’s renegade son Blackheart (Wes Bentley) from claiming a contract that will grant him unlimited power. Ghost Rider makes for a respectable origin story, with a surprisingly robust script and a fair amount of action. However, it is outclassed by other superhero films that reach farther.
Ghost Rider gets the basics right. It spends enough time with Johnny and Roxy for them to feel like real characters. Peter Fonda and Sam Elliott are great additions to the supporting cast. The plot ties together neatly, avoiding any major twists but making sure every idea that’s introduced has a role to play. The dialogue is a cut above the typical action movie. Finally, the action scenes give Ghost Rider himself a chance to shine.
Still, Ghost Rider has a few clear limitations. The CGI is a mixed bag. The action scenes are short by modern standards and tend to be more about showing off Ghost Rider’s powers than delivering all-out brawls. The directing doesn’t make any major mistakes, but it’s missing a certain amount of subtlety. And while the movie makes Nicolas Cage’s offbeat performance work in its favor, it still won’t appeal to all viewers.
Ghost Rider is a solid pick for fans of the darker side of the superhero genre. In terms of structure and execution, it’s a typical origin story that doesn’t stand out from the crowd. But it has enough to offer to be worth a watch for anyone interested in the character.
For a superhero movie with a similar premise and blacker comedy, try Venom. For a horror comic book adaptation with a richer world, try Constantine. For one with a similar tone and sharper flaws, try Jonah Hex.
5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid writing and decent action.