The Da Vinci Code

The worldwide phenomenon that is Dan Brown’s bestselling novel makes its inevitable journey to the big screen and the result is, sadly, disappointing. Director Ron Howard has the right eye for the material, but Akiva Goldsman’s screenplay tries too hard to cram in every cryptographic element and unnecessary twist that made the book so engrossing and it really ends up hampering the movie. Absolutely no time or space is given for the actors to breathe, let alone establish their characters. Tom Hanks, who does give a fine performance, is still grossly miscast as Robert Langdon, the Jack Ryan of cryptology; Paul Bettany’s villainous albino is way over-the-top; and Audrey Tautou’s heroine—so crucial in Brown’s book—is here unfairly whittled down to someone who has no other purpose than to ask “What is this?” or “How is that possible?” Ian McKellan succeeds the most in holding our attention, but in the end, it’s not enough to save what should have been a much better film.

Directed by Ron Howard.
Written by Akiva Goldsman.
Starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellan, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina and Jean Reno.

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content. 149 min.

**½ so says The Fish