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Final Grade: C+

I gathered three workmates and headed for the movie that everyone’s been talking about. Three of us had already read the book; one hadn’t but knew the general idea of the story. It’s hard not to when a movie gets this much press, good and bad. Because of all the talk beforehand, each of us had different expectations and apprehensions about the film. And in the end? Well, critics can sometimes be very . . . critical. All four of us enjoyed the movie on different levels, but we all four still had a good night at the show.

Chances are . . . everyone reading this already knows The Da Vinci Code‘s plot. You’ve all already read the book. Or heard about the book. Or heard about the movie. Or heard about the other book that this one ‘allegedly’ ripped ideas from. Well, you get the picture. However, there may be 20 or so people out there that have no idea what this little film is about. For you few secluded (or excluded I suppose) individuals, The Da Vinci Code is an adventure story. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is in Paris, signing copies of his new book on religious symbolism, when the French FBI requests his presence at a crime scene. It seems an elderly acquaintance of his was just murdered and his knowledge of symbols may help decipher a very odd crime scene. The victim seems to have spent his last moments leaving cryptic messages meant specifically for Mr. Langdon! Thus, a simple college professor gets pulled into a mystery that leads to a country hopping, clue following, code cracking adventure. All the while, he is being chased by the nefarious group that murdered the old man for the secret knowledge that seems intended only for the unlikely Langdon. Does this all seem too vague? Good. I’d hate to ruin a decent story for the 20 people that don’t already know about it.

I think The Da Vinci Code is one of the better book-to-movie conversions out there. The movie contained all the same clues, puzzles, chases, twists, and conspiracies that book had. The book never got encumbered with layers of conspiracy theory, the movie didn’t either. The pacing felt similar, the sense of adventure felt similar, as did the joy of a merry chase and the fun of learning secret knowledge. I think the film industry deserves huge props for staying true to the detective/puzzle/adventure feel of the book instead of attempting to jazz up the story for a more action/thriller theme. The Da Vinci Code has some great detective moments. The clues are really fun to follow. The secret revealed at the end is big enough to warrant the chase. The puzzles and riddles are fun to solve. The plucky heroes are likable enough that we hope they solve the puzzle and don’t get nabbed in the process. The movie stayed very, very close to the book. The book was ridiculously popular for a reason. It’s a fun story!

I should spend a little time with the look of The Da Vinci Code. Location shots were gorgeous and added to the feeling of wonder that was invoked by the adventure. Short flashbacks were well placed, well timed, and did a bang up job summarizing the characters’ back stories with only a tad of confusion in the process. The biggest change from the book was the special effects used to demonstrate Robert Langdon’s puzzling process for some of the clues. It was a bit unexpected at first, but by the end, I felt it was a very refreshing way of walking us through Langdon’s deciphering without resorting to long moments of watching him Tom Hanks mumble to himself.

My biggest nitpick with the movie would probably have to be the acting. It begins with an excellent cast playing less than excellent roles. I think the casting director may have stolen a glance at a list of my favorite actors for this one. The movie included powerhouses Tom Hanks and Ian McKellen, cult favorites Alfred Molina and Jean Reno, rising star Paul Bettany (his unforgettable role as Chaucer in A Knight’s Tale is literally the only thing I remember from that very forgettable movie), and the always adorable Audrey Tatou. Problem is, The Da Vinci Code really didn’t require any of this talent. The roles aren’t complicated. There’s next to zero character development and about the same amount of drama. The book was the exact same way though! With a cast of this magnitude and a story that was more about the puzzles than the people solving them, I can’t help but wonder if the actors received direction like “Now listen here Tom, don’t bring too much attention to yourself. We want the audience thinking about the puzzle box you’re holding, not about what your character’s feeling right now.” Should that be the case, they succeeded famously. I have a feeling The Da Vinci Code would have done better off with bottom rung actors playing these bottom rung roles. It was almost painful to see that much talent go to waist, but for some reason I can’t shake the belief that the director was ultimately responsible. Either way though, unexciting characters make for a much less exciting adventure tale. The one possible exception to all of this would have to be Ian McKellen’s Sir Leigh Teabing that easily has more depth and personality than any other character in the film.

The advice I always give: If the preview looks good to you, you’ll probably enjoy it. They’re specifically tailored for the target audience. If the trailer catches your eye, then you are probably that audience! Chances are you’ll dig the flick. Go with your gut, it usually won’t steer you wrong. I felt that The Da Vinci Code was going to be a good ride and that’s exactly what it was. I didn’t see anything particularly amazing on the ride, but when it was all said and done I did left with pleasant taste in my mouth. I would recommend The Da Vinci Code to Mystery fans, Detective story fans, Adventure lovers, and any one of those 20 people that are just dying to know what everyone else is talking about. I would not recommend it to Action fans, Christians that can’t take a joke, and Film Snobs that require top notch acting from every movie they see.

The Upside:
Intelligent, fun, just like the book, Audrey Tatou is still adorable.
The Downside:
The story didn’t require the actors to flex their muscles at all. Could have used a bit more tension and action to spice things up, but it had to stay true to the book.
On the Side:
During an hour long conversation with Producer Brian Grazer and Director Ron Howard, French President Jaques Chirac suggested Jean Reno should have a pay raise and that his daughter’s best friend, an actress, should be cast as Sophie Neveu.