Hollow. Lifeless. Depressing. Moody. Dark. Miserable. Boring.

No, these aren't adjectives describing the movie Constantine, but rather its main character John Constantine, played with uncanny gusto by Keanu "The One" Reeves.

Forgive me for referring to Reeves by his Matrix persona, but I couldn't possibly ignore the similarities between that film's Neo and Constantine's John.

It seems as though Reeves has found his calling: playing characters that are searching not just for a higher power, but for themselves as well. And while I was watching Constantine -- a movie that has it flaws but works through them to create an overall positive experience -- I came to realize that nobody plays bewildered better than Reeves.

Perhaps this is why the movie is able to overcome said flaws: its casting is dead on. Joining Reeves in this film are Rachel Weisz, ideal for the young and vulnerable detective that requests Constantine's services; Shia LaBeouf, as Constantine's assistant in training; and an array of God-like characters played by actors who seem to be enjoying a slight bit of comic book silliness. Throw in Peter Stormare as an over-the-top Satan, and you have yourself a full-on display of lunacy.

Constantine is based on the comic book Hellblazer, about an exorcist who has seen heaven and hell and who dedicates his life to getting in God's good graces by casting out demons on Earth.

Why would a man like Constantine -- stricken with lung cancer due to his habit of smoking two packs of cigarettes every day of his life -- want to do such a job? Well, it turns out that Constantine tried to kill himself during his younger days -- a surefire ticket to the devil's room -- and he needs to impress God to get back into heaven when he finally kicks it.

Reeves plays Constantine like a man who knows more than all of us because, in truth, he does.

He's seen both of the big shows, and he knows where he is destined to be in the afterlife, so don't ask him any questions, OK?

If only Weisz's detective could have done just that, we'd have little or no plot. But she needs his help, and as it turns out, he may need hers as well.

Up until these two meet, you wonder where the film is going, and how exactly you're supposed to follow a man as lifeless and dull as Constantine for two hours. But the young woman is able to bring some life out of our hero, and when this occurs, Constantine begins to find more cinematic strength.

Part of the intrigue behind the film has to do with the way in which it was filmed.

I enjoyed how Francis Lawrence -- a music video director making his first feature -- used unusual camera angles and unique lighting choices to construct his comic book movie.

Maybe his fresh blood is exactly what this movie needed to enhance its rather weak screenplay. He more than likely analyzed the Hellblazer series extensively prior to filming and some of those pages were able to stay fresh in his mind long enough for them to jump directly onto the screen.

But the aspect of Constantine that is likely to stick with viewers the longest is the monotonous performance of its lead character.

If you are able to deal with Reeves' ability to shoulder an entire film's burden without help, Constantine will seem shorter than it actually is and you'll leave the theater satisfied.

If you're tired of seeing him go through the motions in non-challenging action films, you won't enjoy this movie.

Everybody's having fun with their roles, so why does it seem as though Reeves isn't? You could argue that it's all part of playing a man like Constantine, I say it's vintage Keanu.