It's very rare for a movie to be completely over-the-top and silly and yet still be entertaining. Usually such a movie just ends up being completely cheesy or entirely stupid. G.I. Joe: The Rise ofCobraavoids that particular pratfall. To be clear, this movie is over-the-top, and it's also a bit cheesy, but somehow it's able to avoid being dumb and instead is just simple fun. Shakespeare this isn't, but if you're looking for a good time at the movies, G.I. Joe just may prove to be your hero.

In truth, if you've seen any of The Mummy movies that Stephen Sommers has directed, you'll know exactly what you're in for. Silly one-liners, light character development, well-choreographed action sequences, and a fast-paced plot that moves so quickly it doesn't give you time to dwell on all of the leaps of logic or convenient developments that occur to keep things moving. G.I. Joe adheres strictly to that formula and doesn't deviate, and in doing so delivers a fun action romp that never takes itself too seriously while still delivering some genuinely cool moments.

There are also a few nice moments of character development. Nothing too serious, mind you, but just a few quick snapshots of backstory to help add a little gravitas, even if it is a bit silly, to the proceedings. Again, G.I. Joe avoids the mistake so many silly movies make by turning these moments of character development into melodrama that begs the audience to feel something. In this movie the scenes merely serve to help the characters appear as more than just cardboard cut-outs.

Just as a warning, fans may have mixed feelings about the film. While it does a good job of mixing in all the requisite lines from "knowing is half the battle" to "real American hero" and even "yo Joe," it also delivers a few twists that may upset fans. I won't go into any detail with that in order to avoid spoiling an otherwise fun movie, but just be warned that there are a few areas where this movie deviates from established Joe lore.

Another problem I had with the movie was the costumes. While the accelerator suits and black battle outfits may be more convenient for certain action sequences and more practical for filming purposes, it causes the Joes to lose some of their distinctions. The characters of G.I. Joe all had their own unique looks and quirks and that's what made them so loveable and memorable, and putting everyone in black leather takes that away. It's a minor quibble, but one that bothered me nonetheless. (I also have to wonder how the homogenized look will affect action figures.)

I also should note that this is very much a movie of "convenience." Things happen and characters suddenly realize things if for no other reason than it helps move the characters from one action set piece to another. There doesn't need to be any explanation for what or how things happen, they just do. The movie sets up this conceit quite nicely with the whole "in the not too distant future" tag at the beginning. This gives the film the freedom to look completely contemporary while at the same time introducing any number of crazy high-tech gizmos it sees fit. How all of this is possible is perfectly explained by it being "the not too distant future." If you're hoping for a more logical and meticulous approach to plot development, you just won't find it here.

In truth, there's not much more to say about G.I. Joe. It's slick, it's fast, it's action packed, and it avoids all of the garbage that weigehd down its '80s-brethren sequel known as Transformers 2. It's quite obvious by the end that Sommers is hoping for more Joe adventures, hence the whole Rise of Cobra subtitle. The arch-nemesis of G.I. Joe isn't really created until the very end of the film,but quite frankly if they can keep the movies this light and breezy I would be more than happy to come along for the ride for more films, and I'm curious to see how well the Cobra organizationwill be handled in future films.

Is G.I. Joe:The Rise of Cobraa good movie? No, not really. But it is a fun movie. It's a movie that made me smile and most importantly, it's a movie that didn't destroy all of my nostalgia for G.I. Joe. So if you were curious about what this movie offered, now you know and as they say, knowing is half the battle.