Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

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Kevin Costner headlines this big summer popcorn muncher about the legendary archer-turned-rebel who rallies his outcast merry men to battle the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) and fall in love with the fair maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). The script covers the familiar plot markers, the sets are grand, the score rousing, and many of the supporting cast give it their all. Yet somehow, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves fails to give life to the legend.

Director Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo) gives every indication that the movie should be taken tongue-in-cheek. His frequent use of fish-eye lenses that distort extreme closeups and tendency to have characters speak almost directly to the camera tell us, ‘this is a comedy, have fun with it.’ Alan Rickman certainly captures the intended spirit in his over-the-top villainous performance. Michael McShane (as Friar Tuck) and Geraldine McEwan (as a nasty witch) also have the right idea. In fact, nearly the entire cast fall in line with this vision — except the leading star.

Kevin Costner does not play Robin Hood with the least about of humor or zest for life. He does not inspire rebellion. He depresses. I love Costner in other movies and as an actor in general, but whether intentionally or accidentally, he greatly damages this movie’s effort to coalesce into lighthearted entertainment. Is he the only problem? No. The script is far too long, the murky atmosphere often feels at odds with the storytelling, Mastrantonio’s part is underwritten, and Christian Slater (as Will Scarlett) is also miscast. But when I try to imagine someone else in the role of Robin Hood, someone with a glint in their eye and some swashbuckle in their step, I can’t help but feel the movie might work a lot better than it does.

Even with its miscasting and ponderous run-time, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has its moments. Rickman’s scenes are always reason to perk up. Morgan Freeman has a few moments as Robin Hood’s faithful bodyguard, Azeem. Michael Kamen delivers a top-notch score that smooths over some messy action scenes. And the movie ends well. The final half-hour, when Robin Hood and his band prevent a mass hanging of prisoners and rescue Marian from being married to the sheriff, musters some genuine thrills. With Michael Wincott, Nick Brimble, and Brian Blessed.

Oscar Nomination: Best Song (“Everything I Do, I Do It For You”, performed by Bryan Adams)