Del Toro shows there’s more to Hellboy

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Cert 12, 114 mins, Action/Sci-Fi/Comedy/Romance)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is every bit as fast and furious as its predecessor, melding dazzling production design with wry humour.

Director Guillermo is given free rein to let his imagination run riot, concocting a dark and bloody fairy-tale full of trolls, goblins and voracious tooth fairies.

Perlman carries off his role with gusto, teasing out the humour of his reluctant saviour from behind the prosthetic make-up as Hellboy contends with so-called domestic bliss.

Jones comes to the fore as a sensitive soul experiencing love for the first time but Goss is the weak link, failing to convey the rage and frustration of a misguided usurper.

Rating: ****