From All Movie Guide: Guillermo del Toro and Co. have pulled off a fantastical feat of high entertainment in Hellboy II, a follow-up that bounds off its predecessor into new comedic and action-packed heights, giving this unlikely big screen hero a gleeful second installment that works its devilish tail off to satisfy and astound. Having already been through the rather transparent -- "This is who the big-horned fella is and yes, he's the leading man" schtick the first time around, round two finds its own groove as Mike Mignola's characters trounce through Del Toro's menagerie of fetishes, namely misunderstood monsters, clockwork gears, undying love, and a magical array of monsters that leaves the audience spellbound throughout its near-two-hour running time.

If one thing is for certain, it's that Ron Perlman was born to play this cat-loving demon with a heart of gold. His nuances under the makeup are effortless, as is his interaction with the movie's biggest surprise, that of gill-man and best bud, Abe ...

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