Monday, March 2, 2015

The Diversity Test: The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk (2008)



From the movie that jump started the MCU to the one that almost killed it.  I kid, but poor Hulk.  He just can't seem to get a decent movie.  They can't seem to think of much beyond the Bruce/Hulk Jekyll/Hyde struggle and "Oh no!  Hulk rampage!  We must stop him!"  Even The Avengers had to throw that into the middle of the film (and then add the development that sometimes he can control it somehow, but that's for another time.)

In any case, here is the film that fans and the studio apparently try their collective best to forget, but the stirrings of connective tissue are there.  We do get a Tony Stark cameo, after all, but will Liv Tyler or William Hurt ever reprise their roles?  Everyone very much doubts it.



Main Characters

Bruce Banner a.k.a. The Hulk (Edward Norton)


Brilliant scientist who dosed himself with a bit too much Gamma radiation and now becomes a giant green rage monster any time he gets a little too angry.  

Dr. Elizabeth "Betty" Ross (Liv Tyler)


Bruce's old flame, General Ross' daughter, and... hold on, I'm going to have to look her up so that she's not only defined by her relationships to men... ah ha!  A scientist and university professor.  Also dating the dad from Modern Family.  

General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt)


Betty's father and a high ranking military officer who wants to capture Bruce both to protect the public and find out what makes the Hulk tick.  And how they can use him to their advantage.  Honestly, all I really remember about him was how much he reminded me about Obadiah Stane that summer.  Anyway, he's something of a villain, but not as much as...

Captain Emil Blonsky a.k.a. The Abomination (Tim Roth)


A member of the British special forces on special assignment to Ross' command.  He's really into battle and wants to face the Hulk, eventually leading him to taking the Super Soldier serum and then Hulk's blood, turning him into the rampaging Abomination.

Supporting Characters

Dr. Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson)


A scientist helping Bruce look for a cure.  He's a little too passionate about gamma radiation, though, and helps turn Blonsky into The Abomination.  Was set up to become Hulk villain The Leader in a future film, but it looks like that didn't pan out.

Major Kathleen Sparr (Christina Cabot)


An officer under General Ross' command and high ranking officer in the special ops unit assigned to track and stop Banner and the Hulk.  

Minor Characters

Dr. Leonard Samson (Ty Burrell)


A psychotherapist and Betty's boyfriend.  Many of his scenes were cut from the theatrical film and later added back in to Incredible Hulk: Extended Edition.

Martina (Débora Nascimento)


Bruce's coworker at a soda bottling plant in Brazil.  She has some romantic interest in him and later helps him elude Ross' soldiers pursuing him.  

Tough Guy Leader (Pedro Salvin)


Bruce's coworker at the soda plant who runs afoul of Bruce when he harasses Martina.  Part of the reason Bruce hulks out early on.

Miscellaneous
  • As with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk has some diversity built in in that the beginning has several scenes taking place in Brazil.  
  • Hey, it's that guy! actor Peter Mensah makes an appearance as fellow general in a scene with Ross, but as far as I can tell, it's his only appearance, so he doesn't qualify in the character lists.
  • I cannot seem to find any information on Christina Cabot's ethnicity.  If the information I found on her father is accurate, he appears to be white and I could find nothing on her mother beyond her name.  As it is, I'll list her as white until I find information that contradicts that.
Scores
Of the four main characters, Betty is the only one who is not a white man.  Diversity Score: 25

Things get a little more diverse when the cast is expanded to supporting and minor characters.  We get one, possibly two non-white women (albeit one in a very minor role).  This is notable because it will be the last time in a while.

White men: 5
White women: 2 (possibly 1)
POCs
Men: 1
Women: 1 (possibly 2)

Womem DS: 33

Overall Diversity Score: 56

Tabulation
Iron Man: Main, 50; Women, 18; Total, 55 (64)
The Incredible Hulk: Main, 25; Women, 33; Total: 56

Next: Preview the coming of the Avengers in Iron Man 2!







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