Spawn (1997) * * 1/2 A movie review by Serdar Yegulalp Copyright 1997 by Serdar Yegulalp
CAPSULE:
SPAWN is the kind of movie they used to pass out scratch 'n sniff cards for -- "to enhance the sensory experience". It's not the greatest film ever made -- not by a mile -- but it's ambitious as all hell, pardon the pun, and is so over the top that it actually works. It's about a man who's been chosen to lead the Devil's armies on earth (and eventually, in heaven), and it slams this comic-book story home with gobbets of gory special effects and eye-searing computer graphics. If this isn't your cup of Diet Pepsi, I say pick another review. If it is, read on.
The man who we come to know as Spawn (Michael Jai White) starts off in life as an assassin for a secret government bureau. He's sick of it and wants out, but his boss (Martin Sheen, looking weirdly like Stephen King with that beard and hair) double-crosses him. Instead of dying, however, our hero is whisked down to hell and drafted into the service of Satan (named Malebolgia in this movie): if he leads Satan's armies, he will get to see his wife and children once more. He's also given a controller, of sorts, a vile bucket of suet and four-letter words with a clown's face (played, incredibly, by John Leguizamo), who turns out to be another stab in the back.
The movie quickly turns into a high-tech special effects ride, with the usual obligatory nods towads a plot and theme. Movies like this succeed or fail largely based on the level of energy and inventiveness they possess, not the originality of their plots, and SPAWN is if nothing else energetic. Spawn's suit (done with CGI) sprouts horns, fangs, claws, chains, and a giant undulating cape that reminded me of a sentient glob of bubble gum. The soundtrack's a loud, unending roar of industrial-strength drumbeats and guitars; the acting rapid-fire and goofy. There's always something weird to look at or listen to.
The movie's sole ambition is to be brassily entertaining, and it does that well. The worst thing you can say about SPAWN, I guess -- beyond it being very silly frat-boy level fun -- is that it sets itself up for a sequel.
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