'Wolverine' as conflicted, confused as title character

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE — ★★1/2 — Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston; rated PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, brief gore, brief nudity, slurs, vulgarity); in general release

In the Marvel Comics stories, the Wolverine character was — originally, at least — a cipher, a trained killer who wasn't sure exactly who he is or where he came from.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" does try to shine a little light on the character's background. But ironically, it seems to be having an identity crisis, much like that character.

It isn't sure what kind of movie it wants to be. At times, it's an in-the-beginning tale that brings us up to speed on what happened to the character before he showed up in the first "X-Men" film.

At other times, it appears to be pushing the reset on the entire "X-Men" series, and that it's going to lead to a whole new series of such films.

As a result, the long-awaited Wolverine solo feature feels about as conflicted and confused as its title character. While it might not be as much of a cinematic train wreck as 2006's "X-Men: The Land Stand," it's not quite the rousing, spectacular summer movie season opener we were hoping for, either.

In the beginning, director Gavin Hood and two credited screenwriters show us that the clawed mutant was once a sickly young boy named James Howlett (Troye Sivan).

Once his powers manifested — with deadly results — James was forced to go on the run with his biological brother.

Through the years, the seemingly ageless James, now known as Logan, and Victor (Liev Schreiber) continued to run, though they also fought in various conflicts — such as the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

But rogue U.S. military man William Stryker (Danny Huston) offer them the opportunity to join an elite strike team made up of their fellow mutants. (Other members include the teleporter John Wraith, played by Black Eyed Peas frontman Will i Am, and the wisecracking weapons expert Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds.)

After a while, though, the weary Logan tries to settle down, as a logger, with schoolteacher Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins). Unfortunately, his past won't allow him to do that.

The movie is at its best when it's sticking to the origin story aspects. The messy, action-packed third or so of the film doesn't work at all.

Also, for a film that bears one character's name, this one is pretty overcrowded. The movie introduces the popular Gambit (Taylor Kitsch, from TV's "Friday Night Lights"), as well as young versions of Cyclops (Tim Pocock) and Emma Frost (Tahyna Tozzi).

(If this film is as successful as predicted, you can pretty much count on Gambit and Deadpool both getting their own solo features.)

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is rated PG-13 and features strong violent action and imagery (war violence, including gunplay, shootings, vehicular and explosive mayhem, stabbings and a beheading, violence against women, and children-in-peril elements), scattered strong profanity, drug content and references (painkillers and hypodermic needles), brief blood and gore, brief male nudity, derogatory language and slurs, and some suggestive language and vulgar slang. Running time: 107 minutes.

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com