I, Frankenstein is an endlessly silly Blade/Underworld mash-up that somehow never becomes unwatchable, mainly due to some decent action, visual effects, and Bill Nighy’s Billy Mack-gone-Goth routine. Aaron Eckhart stars as Adam, the supposedly horrendous creation of Dr. Frankenstein (he basically looks like a normal dude with some scars) whose biological immortality is sought by both the gargoyles (good guys) and demons (bad guys). Adam finds himself caught in the middle of the battle as he comes to grips with what made him what he is.
Writer/director Stuart Beattie frequently passes on the dialogue in favor of action, which is a good thing since the acting is nothing short of dreadful. Eckhart, for all his talent as an actor, is absolutely lifeless here. Adam seems like a parody of gravelly-voiced Batman most of the time and never emerges as anything more than a reason for action scenes to take place. The visual effects and action are well-done, though the film as a whole never rises above the level of fairly desperate cash-in. I, Frankenstein leaves itself open to be franchised, but the chances of that happening are equal to Eckhart putting this film at the top of his resume.
GRADE: C-
Studio: Lionsgate
Length: 92 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense fantasy action and violence throughout.
Theatrical Release: January 24, 2014
Directed by: Stuart Beattie
Written by: Stuart Beattie. Story by Beattie & Kevin Grevioux. Based upon the Darkstorm Studios graphic novel by Grevioux & characters created by Mary Shelley.
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Bill Nighy, Jai Courtney
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