The Incredible Hulk (PG-13, 2008)

THE INCREDIBLE HULK opens in mid-story, with scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) living in exile. Years ago, a medical experiment cursed him with a bizarre affliction -- when he's frightened or angry, he transforms into the Hulk, a nine-foot-tall green behemoth with limitless physical strength and a limited intellect. Banner's trying to cure his affliction; meanwhile, his old boss, Gen. Ross (William Hurt) wants to find Banner to analyze and recreate his abilities. But when Ross uses experimental medical technology on soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), who also gets hold of Banner's irradiated blood, Blonsky becomes a creature so horrible that only the Hulk can stop him.

Ang Lee famously said that his arty, brooding 2003 take on the classic Marvel Comics character was an attempt "to make a delicacy out of American fast food." Apparently, the higher-ups at Marvel -- who self-financed this newer version -- figured they could make more money with a simple meat-and-potatoes action film, which is what director Louis Leterrier gives us. And The Incredible Hulk does have plenty of super heroic action, as well as a great sense of humor about its origins and roots. There's even romance between Banner and his long-lost love, Betty (Liv Tyler), a scientist who happens to be the daughter of his nemesis, General Ross. Add in Roth's bad guy, a military man so obsessed with stopping the Hulk that he turns himself into something worse, and you have all the standard-issue elements of the modern comic book action film.

And that's all you have. While there are plenty of operatic fight sequences and extraordinary special effects -- and Norton is effective as a super heroic variation on The Fugitive -- The Incredible Hulk never really takes any chances or truly delivers anything other than loud fistfights and visions of mass destruction. It doesn't have either the style and panache that made Iron Man stand out, or the vision and visual style that Christopher Nolan brought to Batman Begins. The Incredible Hulk is a fairly good summertime action film designed more to make money than a statement, and it's certainly competent and confident in the execution of those modest aims. There's plenty of room left for a sequel if it's a hit, but it's hard to say whether there's room for a so-so superhero at a box office increasingly crowded with comic-book heroes.