The Wolverine

Apparently the creators of The Wolverine are trying to take a mulligan in bringing their comic-book superhero to the big screen.

First there was the absurdly titled X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and now comes a second effort to launch a franchise with Hugh Jackman in the title role, this time mostly detached from the X-Men universe.

This installment is an improvement on the other film and follows a similar approach to other recent cinematic superhero adventures, trying to make its mutant character less cartoonish and more human – a brooding and reluctant hero who views his superpowers more as a burden than a virtue.

In the case of Logan, as he’s called, those two powers are long claws that emerge from his knuckles and a self-healing ability that makes him practically indestructible. Of course, both come in handy during this story that takes place sometime after the events of the other X-Men films.

It takes place in Japan, where Logan is haunted by nightmares as he visits an old friend, only to get caught up in a battle with the notorious yakuza crime syndicate, which has been hired to bring him down. While teaming up with a mysterious woman (Rila Fukushima), Logan realizes he must both confront his enemy and reconcile with his past demons.

After a fair amount of exposition, The Wolverine turns into a somewhat formulaic tale of revenge, double-crossing and organized crime. There’s also a sultry reptilian villain named Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) who doesn’t register very strongly until the obligatory climactic showdown.

Director James Mangold (Walk the Line), working from a script by Mark Bomback (Unstoppable) and Scott Frank (Get Shorty), stages a handful of slick action sequences, including one involving parkour and archery on rooftops above a crowded Tokyo street, and a thrilling fight atop a bullet train.

The film sometimes gets caught between big-budget spectacle and a more cerebral character study. Plus, the incorporation of 3D seems more for financial benefit than visual enhancement.

At any rate, Jackman’s familiarity and comfort level with the character allows him to bring depth to his performance. But moviegoers – both established fans and newcomers – would be wise to take a different approach, dispensing any preconceived notions from previous Wolverine films and allowing him a fresh start.

Rated PG-13, 126 minutes.