Amazon.com video review:
Sophisticated to a point, this
well-executed wolf-man tale works due to its clever setting and
enormous star power. We all know Jack Nicholson can go nuts, but the
script makes his character aware of his changes, sometimes for the
better, early on. The setting, a publishing house in the middle of a
takeover, gives the characters dramatic life before the horror
elements kicks in. A senior editor about to get the boot, Nicholson's
character becomes a new man after being bitten by a wolf. He takes on challenges
at work, lives a more robust life, and attracts a new love. But will
his newfound energy consume him? Director Mike Nichols keeps the action
alive in the first half, but the film peters out at the end with cheap
theatrics and the overuse of slow motion. Michelle Pfeiffer has
little to do as simply the love interest with a grittier than average
personality. Better is James Spader as a smarmy colleague. Nicholson is
in fine form, relying on his keen gift to spark interest (a twitch of
the head, a look in the eyes), instead of heavy doses of movie
makeup. Giuseppe Rotunno's sweeping camerawork sets the mood quite
well. Easy to recommend, with the added feature it's hardly
gratuitous. --Doug Thomas
