MOVIE REVIEW: 'The Raven' Fails To Take Flight

You can't help but compare "The Raven" to another film that takes place in the same time period and tackles the same kind of concepts: "Sherlock Holmes." Unfortunately, the various elements that make the latter movie great are exactly what are missing from the former.

"The Raven" begins with a bloody bang, as we see the police discover the bodies of a woman and her 12-year-old child, who have been murdered in a manner right out of the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

We soon cut to Poe, played by John Cusack, who desperately tries to paint his character as the quirky, witty, but lovable drunkard pining for the days of this former glory. Obviously, Cusack is definitely not Robert Downey Jr., but this scene makes it painfully obvious. And since we all know our destination, whether or not we enjoy the journey depends on the person we're traveling with. And Cusack completely fails to make Poe as compelling and fascinating a character onscreen as he probably was in life.

Another problem is the complete lack of chemistry he shares with his fiancé, Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve). They are passionately in love, but have to keep their engagement a secret from her father (Brendan Gleeson), who is not too keen on his daughter marrying a penniless alcoholic. The circumstances of their engagement along with the repressed passion of the age should leave them burning onscreen, but even when they share a dance together and declare their love for each other, they're about as believable as Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in “The Tourist.”

Poe is soon pulled into an investigation of a series of bloody crimes, all inspired by his stories, complete with an unknown serial killer who is kind enough to taunt police by leaving various clues as to where he'll strike next. Of course, we don't have to wait long before Emily is kidnapped, leading to a sadistic game where the prize is her life. While it keeps your attention, that's partially due to the bloody mess you continually see onscreen.

The problem with making a film about an actual historical figure is there are fewer liberties you can take, but there's certainly enough to work with to make Poe a more compelling figure. Sadly, the film barely references the many colorful incidents that make up his past.

The only one with any gravitas is Luke Evans as Detective Fields, who has both the looks and burning intensity to draw you to his character. But even he can't compensate for the film's failings. That said, “The Raven” doesn't even crash and burn spectacularly, because it sticks to much to the same tired old cliches we've seen before. Until a better one comes along, stick to the Sherlock Holmes movies. Similar premise, only better ... well, everything.

Grade: C+