Hulk. Smash. But not Smash Movie.

"The Incredible Hulk"

Universal Pictures

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt and Tim Blake Nelson

Rated PG-13

2 1/2 Stars

The Incredible Hulk gets a big screen re-boot following director Ang Lee's noble box office failure from 2003. Edward Norton slips into the big green dude's skin this time around, anchoring a movie that features a lot of “Hulk-Smash” action, but not the detailed character pyrotechnics that would make the film into something special.

Of course, if you just want to see some mindless Marvel Comics mayhem, this "Hulk" provides three thrilling fight set pieces that will easily delight summer action movie fans. Director Louis Leterrier is known for making brisk, action-packed movies, and his style will delight those fans hoping for a total change from Ang Lee’s original take on the material.

"The Incredible Hulk" is not an origin story, picking up the story with Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) hiding out in Brazil. Banner is meditating and trying to suppress his nasty habit of turning into an unstoppable green monster every time he gets angry. The US Military is hot on this trail, determined to extract biological samples and turn Banner into a super-soldier weapon.

It’s not long before a general (William Hurt) sends a commando team in to capture the good doctor. Banner is able to escape the raid thanks to his Hulk persona, but not before he faces off with a British special forces soldier (Tim Roth) who becomes obsessed with the Hulk and vows to do whatever it takes to best him in combat. “Whatever it takes” turns out to be participation in a super-soldier medical experiment that will eventually transform the soldier into the gigantic monstrosity known to comic book fans as The Abomination. It all leads up to a destructive finale where Hulk and Abomination face off in the streets of Harlem.

So much for New York’s plans to renovate the area.