Starring: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones (I), Selma Blair

6 out of 10 stars

Parental Warning: Hellboy is the kind of comic book movie that reminds you of the comic books that you read as a kid, the ones you knew your parents wouldn't approve of. It seeps occultism and seems a tad too interested in Nazis and demons and blood.

Tween Warning: Your parents might catch wind that Hellboy is a touch too gothic and thus prevent you from seeing it. Allow them to think it's just an edgy, fun, comic adaptation.

Guillermo del Toro Fans Warning: Devotees of the director of Cronos and The Devil's Backbone will find much to love in Hellboy, as the first two thirds are quite entertaining and largely unexpected. Del Toro is best when exploring relationships, as he did in Cronos. A love triangle scenario, which puts the ultra-macho Hellboy in the unlikely position of being helpless, is a highlight. But del Toro either had the last third of this movie forced upon him or he has to go back to Third Act class, because the third act largely stinks. Badly.

Ron Perlman Fans Warning: You don't need a warning. Perlman is great. Great, great, great.

"Hellboy" Fans Warning: Actually I have no idea if you'll love or hate this movie, though I tend to think the former. Perlman, as mentioned, is a lot of fun in the lead and the production quality is top drawer. There are a lot of little things, such as a scene where Hellboy asks for directions to Rasputin's grave, that make the whole ride worthwhile.

Plot Synopsis Warning: Hellboy is a demon pulled from "the other side" by a Nazi occult ceremony -- and Rasputin! (Karel Roden)-- in Scotland in 1944. He is adopted in this world by Professor Bruttenholm (John Hurt, trying to get in on the Ian McKellen thing while there's still time), who raises him as his own son. Bruttenholm founds the Bureau of Paranormal Research-something-or-other, a covert operation that "bumps back" against the evil things that go bump in the night. Also part of this operation is Abe Sapien (voiced by David Hyde Pierce), a mer-man who, for reasons probably only known to fans of the comic book, is called Abe because he was found in a tank with April 14, 1865 (the day Lincoln was shot) riveted to his tank. What mysterious connection does Sapien have with the assassinated 16th President? Hellboy the movie leaves you guessing. Hellboy's love interest is Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) who is a "firestarter," a person with pyrokinetic powers, though she is largely unable to control them.

Third Act Warning: As mentioned Hellboy unfortunately feels the need to have one of those momentous, let's-build-a-big-set final confrontations. Most of it smells and feels like the end of Howard the Duck and is about as successful. The less said about it, the better, but it derails an otherwise enjoyable if pretty gothic comic book and besmirches some entertaining performances, particularly by Perlman. Hell.