I’ve not read much of the Marvel MAX Punisher series that so many people dig, but I’ve read enough from MAX to know just how fucking cartoony they make some of their ideas. The latest Punisher movie is made in such a way, with such goofy villains… well the thing that made the movie work was how goddamn well the lead actor played Punisher. What a piece of shit this movie would have been if he didn’t take this movie as seriously as he seemed to with his performance. His dedication to the role really kept what little suspension for disbelief I could tolerate intact, as difficult to read my own words on the matter has become. A moment without Ray Stevenson was either boring or… stupid. Though, the maturity with which they approached the brothers’ dedication to each other was charming.
Seriously, the shit got so fucking looney that I really expected a limbless Ma Gnucci to come flying out of an exploding building to chew on Stevenson’s boots. Other than Ray’s performance, before I forget, I must say that the approach to appear logical, the way MAX tries to, with comments about where Frank Castle’s weaponry comes from and the general attitude of the police force toward him… kept things from spiraling out of control. I might watch this again, but with friends, so we can all enjoy making fun of it, and no time soon at all.
