Ep 94. Honest Trailers - Hulk (2003)

In the 94th episode of Honest Trailers, viewers are taken on a hilarious and snark-filled journey through the 2003 film "Hulk." The trailer starts out by poking fun at the film's long opening credits and slow-paced first act, with the narrator jokingly suggesting that viewers skip ahead to the action. From there, the trailer dives into some of the film's key flaws, pointing out everything from the odd casting choices to the bizarre Ang Lee-directed dream sequences.

One of the first elements to be dissected in the "Hulk" Honest Trailer is the movie's star, Eric Bana. The narrator jokes that Bana was "hot off the success of 'Black Hawk Down,'" but was perhaps not the best choice to play the green-skinned superhero. The trailer goes on to mock some of the other casting choices, such as Nick Nolte's over-the-top performance as Bruce Banner's father.

Another major point of ridicule in the Honest Trailer is the film's slow pacing and emphasis on emotional drama over action. The trailer suggests that the movie could have been shortened by about an hour if it had just focused on the Hulk smashing things, rather than delving deeply into Bruce Banner's psyche. The trailer also takes aim at some of the more surreal elements of Lee's direction, such as the film's comic-book inspired editing and transitions.

As the Honest Trailer progresses, it becomes clear that the film's biggest flaw, in the narrator's eyes, is its lack of fun. The trailer points out that the Hulk is supposed to be a larger-than-life, larger-than-reality character, but the movie takes itself too seriously to fully embrace that. The result is a slog of a film that is more likely to put viewers to sleep than get them pumped up.

Despite all its flaws, though, the Honest Trailer is quick to acknowledge that "Hulk" did contribute a few things to the superhero genre. The film's CGI effects were ahead of their time, and the trailer suggests that the movie paved the way for more nuanced, character-driven superhero stories. Still, these small victories aren't enough to save "Hulk" from being a slog that is not worth revisiting.

Overall, the Honest Trailer for "Hulk" is a hilarious takedown of a movie that is often forgotten in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. With its sharp wit and snarky commentary, the trailer is sure to elicit laughs from both fans and detractors of the 2003 film.