Adapting a comic book to film has a much higher risk factor than adapting a

novel. Generally, the novel will have been a best-seller, with both a

preexisting fan base and name recognition. The comic, while widely read by

a notoriously loyal group of fans, will carry a stigma among non-comic

readers. They will have “normal movie” expectations of a film that, if

artistically successful, will replicate a graphically-intensive fantasy

world where a much greater suspension of disbelief is called for.

So it is that director Rachel Talalay took on the risks of making

Tank Girl, based on a relatively obscure British comic strip.

A variety of translation hurdles immediately presented themselves. Could

the punk rock “poster girl for the Apocalypse” be adapted into an American

action-comedy?

Coming from the position of being both a fan of the Tank Girl comic, and a

realistic critic of American film, I have to say the movie soars where many

others have fallen flat. On the comic-to-movie success scale, Batman

and Superman would be the heights to aspire to, with both Swamp

Thing disasters and The Flash TV series lining the bottom.

While not quite the “Dark Knight” blockbuster, Tank Girl is far from

the wreck Hollywood made of Swamp Thing. Talalay, a fan herself, has deftly

captured the irreverent, gun-slinging spirit of Jamie Hewlett’s creation.

Lori Petty takes the role and runs laps with it, through set designs that

meticulously recreate the comic’s style. Considering the mania of Hewlett’s

artwork, the film beautifully tows the line between source material and

accessibility to the non-fan.

Still, from early reports, a lot of non-fans might not get it. One reviewer

complained of “too much style, too little story.” One look at the original

character shows the fallacy of this. If anything, the film would have

benefited from less plot and more stylistic play. The animated scenes woven

into the live-action film do wonders to bring this style to life, as does

the absurdity of a lavish song and dance number in the middle of a

shoot-em-up.

On the comic-geek front, some fans may complain about the details of the

screen interpretation. For one, Tank Girl has a name– “Rebecca Buck”–

which comes from nowhere. Second, she isn’t Australian. These are piddling

criticisms considering the way comic characters are constantly

reinterpreted within their own books.

A greater complaint would be the disservice done to the character of Booga,

Tank Girl’s kangaroo-man lover. Suddenly, he’s “the dumb guy” of the bunch.

The comic Booga is as wily and smart-mouthed as Tank Girl herself, and

their verbal sparring is part of the title’s spirit. Still, sacrifices are

always made, and it could have been worse — the Tank Girl/Booga romance

almost got cut altogether.

Ultimately, Tank Girl is a fan’s film. But that’s what they say

about Star Trek, Generations too.