'Punisher' is a guilty pleasure

Another comic-book character on the big screen? You bet.
By MILAN PAURICH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
"The Punisher" is great trash, and I mean that it in the nicest way. This second attempt to bring the Marvel Comics crime-fighter to the silver screen gets nearly everything right.
The casting is aces, and the action kicks major butt. "The Punisher" has more in common with urban vigilante flicks like Charles Bronson's old "Death Wish" series than with superhero flicks like "Spider-Man" or "Hellboy."
Anyone looking for cutting-edge computer-generated special effects or family-friendly fare is barking up the wrong tree. The appropriately R-rated "Punisher" may have been designed for boys of all ages, but it's definitely not for kids.
Working in backstory
As a potential franchise kickoff, the movie does a nifty job of sketching in the title character's tormented backstory. A decorated member of the FBI's counter terrorist unit, Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is planning to retire from undercover field work and take a cushy desk job in London. His last sting operation -- something involving the sale of contraband firearms -- resulted in several casualties, including the oldest son of reputed Tampa crime boss, Howard Saint (John Travolta having fun with this "Face/Off"-style villain).
Before heading for England, Castle flies to Puerto Rico with his wife and kid for a family reunion. (Why Puerto Rico? Well, why not?) After determining the identity of the fed indirectly responsible for his son's death, Saint sends a posse of hired killers to wipe out the entire Castle clan.
The seriously wounded Castle survives thanks to a kindly fisherman who nurses him back to health. Five months later, he returns to Florida. Seemingly within minutes, Castle is already plotting his high-octane revenge. Assisting our hard-drinking hero are disgruntled Saint flunky Mickey (Eddie Jemison) and new neighbors Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), Spacker Dave (Ben Foster) and Bumpo (John Pinette).
A lot of loony scenes
In the first of several memorably loony scenes that help thrust "The Punisher" into guilty pleasure territory, Castle makes an ill-advised public appearance where he vows to bring down Saint single-handedly. (Kind of defeats the whole point of his previous, elaborately choreographed stealth campaign, huh?)
Even goofier are the colorful hit men Saint sics on this avenging angel. Harry "Heck" Thornton (Mark Collier) is a Johnny Cash "Man in Black" type from Nashville who serenades Castle with a country-western ditty before pulling out his assault rifle. Doing considerably more damage is The Russian (Kevin Nash), a World Wrestling Federation-size bruiser who demolishes Castle's apartment while trying to whack him.
Performances are as flamboyant and oversize as the testosterone-drenched action sequences. Cast standouts include Will Patton, who plays Saint's possibly double-dealing right-hand man, and "Mulholland Drive"'s Laura Haring as the long-suffering Mrs. Saint.
Even the title is a goofy pun. Frank Castle might know how to dole out punishment, but he sure can take it, too. He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. And he does so without the aid of any superhero powers. Now that's what I call impressive.
XWrite Milan Paurich at milanpaurich@aol.com.