Green Lantern (2011)

Green Lantern’s suit looks like somebody painted a glow stick onto Ryan Reynolds in a computer and hoped nobody would zoom in. That’s the movie in one image: a reported $200M, and most of it is shiny green fog. Reynolds is charming as Hal, a cocky pilot who bails on everything, but the script hands him a pep talk about fear in nearly every scene and no real story. The planet Oa looks like a screensaver. Mark Strong is great as Sinestro, stern and sly, and every scene he’s in plays like a trailer for a better sequel. Peter Sarsgaard’s Hector Hammond gets a villain arc with a giant head that’s more goofy than scary. Blake Lively’s Carol mostly exists to recognize Hal through his mask. Parallax, the big threat, is a cloud of smoke with a face. It made $237.2 million worldwide. A 2.9 because the ring can make anything, and the movie makes almost nothing. $93.94 says you hold up your fist at a stoplight tonight, stare at your knuckles, and feel a little silly.

What works: Ryan Reynolds is likable, and Mark Strong’s Sinestro has the presence the rest of the movie is missing.

What doesn’t: The digital suit, the smoky villain and a script that explains the rules of willpower over and over make it all feel weightless.

Who it’s for: Hardcore Green Lantern Corps fans and anyone curious why this one gets roasted so often.