Johnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage) is a daredevil who works alongside his sick father, Barton (Brett Cullen). When Johnny realizes just how sick his father is, he makes a deal with the devil--Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda)--that will forever change the course of his reality. The devil promises that one day he will call on Johnny to do him a favor. Years after this interaction the time has come for Johnny to keep up his end of the bargain. The powers of the Ghost Rider that the devil has bestowed upon him are both a gift and a curse that now must be used to defeat the forces of evil that wish to wreak havoc on the Earth.
Marvel has long been known to produce films that captivate audiences both visually and emotionally. Films like Spider-Man (2002), Iron Man (2008) and Blade (1998) have engulfed audiences in worlds of science fiction and superheroes that do more than entertain, they teach. The stories that drive these superhero protagonists often resonate with viewers and create a bond between what takes place on screen and the people sitting in the audience. Characters like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine often come to mind when discussing accessible characters in superhero films. They project honesty and build on the bond that brilliant minds like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created years ago.
A name that often slips minds when discussing the better talents present in superhero films is Nicholas Cage, and for good reason. Cage is sometimes described as lacking talent or the ability to connect with viewers. His sometimes surfer-dude persona often destroys the potentially interesting characters he is tasked with portraying. Ghost Rider’s Johnny Blaze falls very close to this designation. Blaze needs to be this balls-to-the-wall, badass anti-hero that is willing to throw caution to the wind and present himself in a fashion that not only excites those around him, but intimidates them as well. While Cage clearly understands the persona that he is meant to portray, his inability to always express the necessary emotion prohibits him from delivering in a satisfying fashion. His emotion often falls flat and fails to reach audiences in a way that has them rooting for him.
What works in Cage’s favor is the far worse casting of Ghost Rider’s antagonist, Blackheart (Wes Bentley). Bentley appears to lack any and all talent, often coming off as a whiney, pre-pubescent hipster. As he fights for what he believes should be his, he fails to provide a genuine reason as to why he deserves the world. The only reason viewers are able to deduce from his actions are because he feels slighted by his father, the devil, and is throwing what can only be described as a colossal temper tantrum. He feels useless and emotionless in the grand scheme of things, benefitting only Cage. There is minor beauty in the fact that casting directors Juel Bestrop, Christine King and Jeanne McCarthy were able to find an actor to make Cage look better.
Writer-director Mark Steven Johnson, regardless of the fact that Cage and Bentley are incapable of delivering, does manage to script a story that, on the surface, looks like it might entertain. With superhero origin stories it can be difficult to find a balance between thoroughly introducing the hero and moving too slowly and losing audiences in the process. Johnson does find some semblance of balance and keeps Ghost Rider rather even-keeled throughout. It’s truly disappointing that both Cage and Bentley so thoroughly ruined a film that appears to have had a lot of potential.
With an uneven balance of good and bad CGI and actors who have no right being in a superhero film, Johnson’s Ghost Rider, both the film and the character, fail to entertain. There seems to be so much potential present throughout the film, but the many shortcomings water down what could have been and leave audiences thoroughly underwhelmed. This ultimately falls short of the expectations that Marvel has set for its movies, superheroes and villains, leading to disheartening disappointment.
Written & Directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Starring Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliott, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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