Beetle Joins the ranks of GI JOE: The Rise of Cobra

GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a fast, action-packed, cheesy , silly romp through a "Not so distant future". In other words, It's nothing special. If watched with the brain in the on position then most will likely be quite angered with the film's stupidity. It's one of those films that's best watched with you're brain turned off. It will drive you crazy if you try to rationalize and make sense of every ridiculous detail in this film...it's almost damned near impossible.

GI: Joe follows the adventures of a special military unit that's job is to save the world from deadly threats...mainly a terrorist organization named Cobra (although Cobra is not officially formed until the very end of the film). Most of the film is spent following GI:Joe as they race around the world trying to gain possession of nanomite filled warheads with the capacity to destroy civilization that have fallen into the wrong hands.

For the first 10 minutes of the film I couldn't figure out where critics had come up with the claims that the film was silly...then the next 5 minutes played and I figured it out. I then promptly switched my brain into off mode and sat back into my couch, enjoying every mind-numbing second of this film...it's almost like a really bad acid trip. It's fantastic to watch, but hurts at times as well.

The main thing that makes the film work is that the film knows what it is. Stephen Sommers wasn't looking to make a serious film...he knew that the script wasn't that great (BAAAAD one-liners) and decided to make lemonade out of lemons and just make a fun film instead, a very wise choice. Not only does Sommers realize what the film is, so do the actors. Instead of acting their hearts out they have fun with the roles and do the best they can with the material they are given. The result is a fun, action-packed if not totally ridiculous and unbelievable film.

And speaking of actors, the only thing that really kept distracting me from the film was the prescence of Marlon Wayans. Yup, they cast THE Marlon Wayans as Ripchord. I don't know what went through their minds when they made that casting descision, but whatever it was it couldn't have been good. It confused me to see him back acting again in a REAL film. He plays kind of a bad-ass, but almost every one of his lines seems funny and out of place, but I geuss thats what you get when you cast a B grade actor.

GI: Joe could have been an utter disaster and a total mess on the big screen. However, if you agree to buy into the ridiculous concepts and turn off your brains then you will most likely enjoy this fun little film.

3 Stars/ 5 stars