Del Toro, in love with his source but never overawed by it, keeps things moving; Perlman ties it together with some of the driest witticisms this side of Indiana Jones. Like we said: fun.
Comment
06/24/06
Hellboy (2004)
81
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:190
Fresh:153
Rotten:37
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: Hellboy is pretty derivative, but there's enough wit and humor here to keep it entertaining.
Runtime: 2 hrs 12 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Based on the comic book series by Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro's gleefully eccentric film follows the supernatural adventures of Hellboy (Ron Perlman), a cigar-chomping, horn-filing demonic... [More]
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, John Hurt
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Reviews for Hellboy
Top CriticSucceeds because it brings the visuals from the page to life with a beating red heart.
09/07/04
Top CriticMost effective as a brief window into an era. It captures the bitter aftertaste of a counter-cultural movement gone stale
09/07/04
Top CriticA briefly entertaining but forgettable adventure.
09/05/04
It hasn't got the breakout potential of less eccentric comic book heroes, but fans will thank the dark squid gods for del Toro's admirable loyalty to the source material.
09/04/04
Top CriticExtremely enjoyable comic-book romp -- impressively directed with a witty, imaginative script and a terrific central performance from Perlman.
09/04/04
A richly imaginative comicbook world is unveiled in Hellboy. If only the story was as strong.
08/03/04
Top CriticDepths of character draw us in and make the film much more than an exercise in eye-poppingly inventive design, make-up, effects and action.
04/18/04
An enjoyable, wide-ranging and well-crafted film.
09/30/03
Top CriticHigh concept fantasy through the eyes of creative genius of Guillermo del Toro
08/25/08
Hellboy both kicks butt and falls in love, in an adventure that is thrilling, funny and touching.
08/07/08
A strong anti-superhero movie that turns the genre sideways.
07/22/08
Del Toro and Perlman essentially make you forget that Hellboy's this bizarre creature because Perlman invests him with such humanity. And maybe what makes him most human are his flaws.
07/10/08
Ron Perlman--the Lon Chaney of our time--plays Hellboy with grit, humor, and a depth of feeling which, barely, grounds the movie.
07/05/08
They say the devil gets all the best tunes and, on the strength of this latest comicbook adaptation, he gets all the good one-liners, too.
06/13/08
Artistically resonant even as it deliberately follows a contemporary narrative structure.
06/12/08
No review available.
12/27/07
Perlman, at age 53, strides in like a hungry young actor itching to prove something, only with 22 years of experience lending him charisma and confidence.
09/17/07
Played by Ron Perlman, he's the most magnetic action hero I've come across in a long while, though I couldn't make heads or tails of this story.
04/18/07
Unfortunately, after setting up this fresh blue-collar scenario in the movie's first hour, Del Toro wallows in pyrotechnics.
04/18/07
Latest News for Hellboy
April 22, 2009:
Ron Perlman Talks Hellboy III, Bubba Nosferatu 
We know Guillermo del Toro is wrapped up in "The Hobbit" for the next few years, but could a third "Hellboy" come together without his direct participation? Not if Ron Perlman... More...
April 21, 2009:
Five Favorite Films with Ron Perlman
While he's become best known for portraying a red, horned antihero in Guillermo del Toro's popular comic book adaptations Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Ron Perlman... More...
November 14, 2008:
Five Favorite Films with Guillermo del Toro
RT caught up with Hellboy II director Guillermo del Toro at the DVD/Blu-ray Launch Event for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, where the celebrated fantasy auteur shared his favorite... More...
November 12, 2008:
Five Favorite Films with Hellboy's Mike Mignola
RT speaks with Hellboy comics creator Mike Mignola to learn his Five Favorite Films of all time, which appropriately span the cinematic landscape where art meets horror. More...
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