Wolf

Directed by Mike Nichols, Wolf follows Jack Nicholson’s Will Randall as he undergoes a series of changes after being bitten by a wolf while on a business trip. There’s ultimately little doubt that Wolf fares best in its briskly-paced and entertaining first half, as filmmaker Nichols, armed with Jim Harrison and Wesley Strick’s screenplay, delivers an absorbing drama that boasts a whole host of appealing, compelling attributes – including an assortment of striking (and smart) sequences revolving around Will’s publishing-world exploits and the typically solid work of an exceedingly impressive cast. (Nicholson’s spellbinding performance anchors the proceedings, to be sure, although James Spader’s agreeably smarmy turn as Will’s far-from-scrupulous protégé remains an obvious highlight.) It’s clear, however, that Nichols’ less-than-successful handling of the story’s werewolf-specific elements paves the way for a rather hit-and-miss midsection and final third, with, especially, the action-packed climax hardly able to pack the exciting, visceral punch for which Nichols is obviously striving (and this is to say nothing of the silly, hopelessly abrupt conclusion). The end result is a watchable yet disappointing endeavor that generally feels as though it should be much, much better, which is a shame, to say the least, given the impressive amount of talent both in front of and behind the camera.

**1/2 out of ****