It has been several years since the lackluster “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” but star Hugh Jackman’s enthusiasm for the Marvel superhero has yet to dissipate. While many would have moved on, “The Wolverine” marks the actor’s sixth appearance in the role. And, if nothing else, this recent effort is an improvement over the character’s first solo outing.
Following the events of 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand,” the story finds Logan (Hugh Jackman) grieving over the loss of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). Hiding in the Canadian wilderness, he coaxed out of his hermit life by Yukio (Rila Fukushima). She leads him to Japan on behalf of her employer, billionaire Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi); a man whom Logan saved during WWII. Initially, our hero thinks he’s been brought to say goodbye to an old friend, but he soon becomes embroiled in an assassination plot. Logan, now a fish out of water in an exotic country, must contend with Yakuza, ninjas, a poison spewing mutant named Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) and a giant robot samurai made of Adamantium (the same metal alloy that form Wolverine’s claws).
Part of the problem in following a character like Logan/Wolverine is dealing with his near invincibility. It can be hard to feel any sense of threat when we viewers know that little can hurt the protagonist. At least this particular tale does everything it can to try to make its hero an underdog. From the new locale, to a temporary loss of his healing abilities, the filmmakers do an admirable job of attempting to create a sense of danger.
Early on, director James Mangold (“Walk the Line,” “3:10 to Yuma”) also tries to downplay the exaggerated comic book aspects of the story and attempt a grittier tone. There are some interesting touches, like a dispirited Logan who has little to live for and even contemplates suicide. On a less cerebral level, the weakened hero is also chased through the streets of Japan, resulting to the film’s most exciting and impressive sequence, a battle inside and on top of a bullet train.
However, this is a movie based around a comic book and tone does become significantly sillier in the film’s second half. Jackman can handle the hard-boiled dialogue, but a few lines from other characters may result in chuckles. Additionally, the Viper mutant isn’t in the film enough to make an impression, other than with the skimpier and more outrageous costumes she’s put into as events progress. While this is all fun to watch, any pretense of a more thoughtful film has evaporated by the time characters are battling in a mad scientist’s lab in a mountaintop fortress.
“The Wolverine” won’t go down in history as one of the best superhero movies ever made, or even the best “X-Men” film (from my perspective, it falls somewhere in the middle). Still, it is an interesting attempt at presenting a slightly different story and visuals than previously seen within the cinematic universe of this character. The movie isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t feel like a retread. It’s an agreeable enough piece of entertainment that should engage and entertain both obsessive fans and casual action film viewers.
And once again, viewers are advised to stay seated once the credits start rolling. After the first series of end titles, there’s an extra scene. It’s a fairly lengthy one too, featuring some surprise cameos that set up next summer’s blockbuster “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (there’s no need to sit through all of the credits as nothing follows this bit).