Movie Review: Robin Hood

Personally I like the tale of Robin Hood and I’ve seen pretty much every version of the character from Errol Flynn to Russell Crowe. I’ve seen him played by a Disney Fox and Men in Tights. The point is, there has been many attempts and most have been quite good on their own merit. So where does this latest version fit? Warning, spoilers ahead…

With its rich source material to take from, director Otto Bathurst gives us a more amped-up retelling of the classic tale taking full advantage of today’s special effects and some well choreographed fight sequences. The general story remains the same as Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) returns to Nottingham after four years fighting in the Crusaders. He was drafted as a Lord with thoughts of settling down with Marian (Eve Hewson) but returns to broken home with all possessions taken by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn) and Marian in the arms of another man, Will Scarlett (Jamie Dorman). To say he might have been better off dead is an understatement.

Joining Robin is a Moorish commander (Jamie Foxx) who goes by the easier English name of John, as in Little John. Together they lead a revolt against the Sheriff and the Church that funded their pockets with the money and blood of the people they say they’re serving. Director Bathhurst takes many liberties with the legend and some of them I can accept while others like the poor choice of costumes, I have a harder time with. Sorry, I don’t think hoodies by Nike or UA or any other apparel company were in vogue back then. Acting wise, I can appreciate the casting. Egerton does a very good job as Robin as does Foxx as John and Mendelsohn is perfectly cast as the Sheriff.

Unfortunately the acting and the action packed scenes aside can’t save this film from its own gluttony of visual effects and uneven story telling which makes Robin Hood ok at best.