Cage just won't quit

I have a vivid memory of seeing the first “Ghost Rider” film my sophomore year of high school. It was for my best friend’s birthday party, and I can say with brutal honesty that I had never laughed that much in a movie theater. Sarcastically entertained though we were, the movie was still entertaining.

With the sequel, I did not have the same experience. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” recounts the story of Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), a devil-possessed anti-hero who aims to stop Satan (Ciarán Hinds) from wreaking havoc in his human form, all while discovering how to be a father. Though the movie tries not to be too self-serious and to cater to younger audiences in the appropriate manner, the film cannot decide who its target audience is and leaves both parties disappointed.

Poor attempts at sentimentality, poorly-styled visual effects and less action than desired not only led me to fall asleep in my chair, but also the 10-year-old and his grandmother one row behind me. I assure you, if you want to see Cage make a series of unsettling faces and grunts, this is the movie for you. Otherwise, steer clear.