If you ever thought Keanu Reeves wouldn’t be able to outlive his role in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” think again. He went on to star in blockbuster movies like “Speed” and “Point Break” – and the dense, idiot role of Ted seemed to vanish in the background, acting only as the catalyst that brought mainstream viewers the gift of Reeves into full focus.

Now, after years of “The Matrix” and its subsequent letdowns – what some call Sequels – the race to reclaim his individuality and a paycheck brings us “Constantine.”

The movie, due for release Feb. 18, centers on John Constantine (Reeves), a loner, an exorcist and a man on the verge of death…again. He is gifted, or cursed, with the ability to see beneath the façade of “half-breeds.”
With an attempted suicide hanging in Constantine’s past, he roams the Earth seeking to buy his way into heaven by “deporting” Earthbound minions of evil in an attempt to combat the sentence only a suicide can offer – at least, according to Catholicism.

Angela Dodson, masterfully played by Rachel Weisz (who also co-starred with Reeves in 1996s “Chain Reaction”) is a police detective trying to prove her twin sister’s death wasn’t a suicide, rather a murder and, having heard of Constantine’s affluence in the occult and things otherworldly, decides to seek his help in uncovering the truth.

The story, the plot in its entirety, is well crafted – as it should be, considering it is based on the highly successful graphic novel “Hellblazer”.

Chock full of special effects, “Constantine” delivers non-stop action and a few jolts for those enthusiasts, the potential for love (thwarted by the necessity of a loner hero) for hopeless romantics, and just the right amount of comedic relief for people who enjoy exercising without excessive movement. With so many blockbuster elements, this run of the mill Devil vs. God flick will probably rake in millions at the box office.

Now, as with any movie, regardless of how many things are blown up or how many times we see a bare breast, or even how many times we get to see slow-motion shattering, there are going to be holes in the plot – and this sort of movie requires you not dig too deep, resolving instead to trust in the intent of the writers and director.

Oh, by the way, Gavin Rossdale, who plays the somewhat unnecessary role of Balthazar, is a singer – not an actor. So, don’t be surprised if you find his character slightly wanting.