Keanu Reeves can't act. I've always had a soft spot for this Beirut-born thespian for his great role in River's Edge. However, 50 (that's right, 50) motion pictures later, I must admit he is incapable of the actual speaking part of his profession.
Thank heavens for dark silent roles such as the exorcist in Constantine in which he broods, he shoots, and he the odd time he talks it's drowned out by the non-stop action.
Based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hellblazer, Constantine tells the story of irreverent supernatural detective John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), who has been to hell and back and he prefers not to return. Constantine teams up with skeptically psychic policewoman Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister. From there the two get swept up in classic battle between heaven and hell. There are very few lulls in the action, making even the classic "woman makes stupid mistake, man has to save her" cliché watchable.
Before you have time to cringe at the generic dialogue the spectacular special effects are there to promptly take your mind off it. Sure, the Pope said Hell doesn't exist, but thankfully the writers of this comic/movie weren't listening. If dark, relentless action with a half-decent plot is a flavour you're craving, then this flick is definitely worth the price of admission.
