Wrath of the Titans

Bad beards, an especially drab actor and a whole lot of messed-up Greek-mythology nonsense return in Wrath of the Titans, a bad film that is nonetheless a marked improvement over 2010’s inexcusable Clash of the Titans. There are enjoyable—and even exciting—stretches in this film, when the action and pyrotechnics overwhelm the fact that the film is anchored with Sam Worthington. As Perseus, the son of Zeus who aspires to be nothing but a human fisherman with awesome flip hair, Worthington registers zero on the charisma meter. Since he’s onscreen more than anybody else in these Titans pics, it’s hard to endorse them. I did enjoy this a little more than The Hunger Games. This has some pretty decent explosions and a couple of neat creatures, while all I really remember from The Hunger Games is Stanley Tucci’s stupid teeth. The 3-D, while not extraordinary, is better than it was in the first chapter of this franchise.