(spoiler free)
If you thought that new animated version of ‘The Grinch’ released earlier this month was pointless you’ve seen nothing yet. With countless film and television adaptations the legend of Robin Hood is a story well trodden on both the big and small screens. Yet here we are again, this time it’s young Brit Taron Egerton who has picked up the bow and arrow as the titular outlaw but could this retelling of his famous mythology add anything of worth or would it simply leave audiences feeling hoodwinked?
If you happened to stumble in late to a screening of ‘Robin Hood’ you could be forgiven for thinking that you had accidentally bought a ticket for a new young adult fiction adaptation rather than another version of the medieval myth. From the set and costume design to the misplaced soundtrack this retelling of the classic story feels completely manufactured to feel like a film in one of these YA universes and it just doesn’t work. The narrative doesn’t help things either, presenting an odd set up in which (Little) John, portrayed terribly by Jamie Foxx, acts as a mentor for Egerton’s Robin and trains him up, showcased in ‘Rocky’ style training montages. In addition to this the film presents a younger and yet to mature Hood, and it just doesn’t feel true to character or the story. What’s more unforgivable though is just how boring they’ve made such a cool character with such a thrilling story. One element of the storytelling that maybe does work in its favour though is the film’s treatment of the Church. It is more creative and interesting than some other adaptations have managed to portray it allowing for at least some intrigue amongst an otherwise dull screenplay.
The action sequences included fail to really combat this but do make for a welcome change of pace from the un-engaging scenes of often woeful dialogue and exposition. Overall this element is hit and miss. It features a lot of slow-motion and whilst these moments do look good they can’t help feel a little gimmicky. On top of this the poor special effects work holds back several other moments which stops the action featured throughout from being anything notable.
Even the talented cast, Ben Mendelsohn, Jamie Dornan and Paul Anderson as well as those already mentioned, assembled to play the many well known characters from this story can’t salvage things. A truly bizarre collection of accents and ludicrous character writing don’t inspire the greatest of performances with several of the cast falling firmly flat, nowhere near the target they were hopefully aiming for. Mendelsohn gets away with it the most with his villainous turn as Sheriff of Nottingham, he at least manages to have fun with it as he rhymes off over the top and exaggerated ways in which he wants to dispatch his victims. The fun he brings to the film is more than can be said for Robin and Marion, played by Eve Hewson. The pair lack an essential likeability and fail to evoke any emotion with their romance which feels like audiences are just forced to accept without any real reason presented by the story or performances. However it’s Dornan’s Will Scarlett who gets the worst deal. He goes from being the most intriguing character in the whole film to nothing more than a plot device as audiences witness some of the quickest and most ridiculous character development they’re likely to have seen for a long time.
The two minute musical re-imagining of the famous outlaw as Monsieur Hood in ‘Shrek’ is a better portrayal of Robin Hood’s character and story than what is achieved here in two hours. The film feels wrong from the get go due to its odd visuals and the blatant attempts to set up a YA style franchise or Robin Hood cinematic universe only add further insult to such a much loved story and character. Any number of the previous film and television adaptations will serve audiences better with ‘Robin Hood’ surely being one of if not the worst on screen incarnations of the character and his story there’s ever been.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 3/10
Question: What is you favourite film or TV version of Robin Hood?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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