Keen to follow on from the successful X-Men franchise, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (or simply "Wolverine", as it has been affectionately dubbed) follows the early story of much-loved mutant James Logan, later becoming the razor sharp claw-wielding member of the X-Men team.
Brash, arrogant and with devilish wit, his rogueish charm, smouldering bravado bordering on arrogance, captivated comic readers from his arrival with Marvel in the late '70s and, as arguably the most successful if not recognisable member of the X-Men, his portrayal on screen had been greatly anticipated. Thankfully, Hugh Jackman stepped into those boots, and the rest, shall we say, is history. Recently appointed Sexiest Man Alive, Jackman is perhaps the perfect choice for a character that is all scruff and biceps.
Why such an Origins story was necessary to make, we'll never know but this is not the all-out action flick the trailer suggests. While not a complete flop, what could have been a rip roaring, rampaging adventure is more bark than bite.
Even after the truck-load of protein shakes needed to bulk up for the role, Jackman just isn't given the formula needed to inject some mutant-infused adrenaline that this comic caper sorely needs.
Our story unfolds with two brothers, James Logan aka Wolverine and Victor Creed (who will later become Sabretooth) running away together as children in the mid 1850's to escape a crime at the family home. Despite appearing as a young child, yet remaining ageless once in his thirties (just one of the film's many plot holes), Director Gavin Wood (Rendition, Tsotsi) lets us share the sibling rivalry of two brothers with the mutant ability of almost limitless regeneration, and the need for regular manicures…
After serving together in many wars, these talon-tipped brothers find themselves recruited by secret military operations commander William Striker (Danny Huston, 30 Days of Night) who has developed a unit of military-trained mutants undertaking questionable covert missions. Creed's thirst for carnage, however, is enough for Logan to part company and instead live a life of peace as a lumberjack with his girlfriend in the Canadian Rockies.
But the past rarely stays past for long, and Logan's catches up with deadly force and brutal fashion.
Intent on revenge, Logan forms an uneasy alliance with old boss Striker, who administers the now-infamous adamantium metal alloy into his body, creating the best human-kitchen utensil combo since Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands.
On the scent of revenge, Logan must track down his former unit members to find his brother and end this family feud, but with double crossings aplenty and new enemies to be sliced and diced, things were never going to be that simple…
Despite a promising start, the film lacks pace and fails to really perform. Liev Schreiber, fresh from giving a surprisingly engaging performance alongside Daniel Craig in Defiance, makes for an enjoyably menacing Sabertooth. But lacklustre performances from Ryan Reynolds, Dominique Logan and musician Will. I. Am, who aren't given the screen time to prove their potential, leaves you wanting more.
Obviously in a story of origin, there are many characters and plot paths that avid fans will want included and it is never possible to cover everything,
But the beastly badass we've come to love is gone, replaced with a declawed Wolfie in a puss-in-boots fable that never really hits the mark.

By Danielle McFerran