The Toxic Avenger (2025) * * *

Directed by:  Macon Blair

Starring:  Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Elijah Wood

I never saw the original cult classic from the 80's, so I'm watching this remake with a fresh set of eyes.  The Toxic Avenger is satirical, campy (of course), and has a sympathetic hero in Winston Gooze (Dinklage), a janitor at a toxic waster factory who is diagnosed with a brain tumor.  When he pleads with the arrogant factory CEO Bob Garbinger (Bacon) for better insurance, he is thrown into a vat of toxic waste for his troubles, and he emerges as the deformed green monster with super powers.  

The Toxic Avenger goes after Garbinger and his goons, who masquerade as a rock band called Killer Nutz, with a vengeance.  Nothing can reverse his condition.  He is now a freak who becomes a cult hero with a son (Tremblay), who has to learn with a father who looks like a walking advertisement for the drawbacks of being thrown into a pool of toxic waste.  An investigative reporter (Paige) snoops around looking to break the story wide open of Garbinger's dumping practices and the unsafe factory.  She shouldn't have to investigate much, as evidence is pretty rampant and apparent to anyone with working senses.  But she exists as someone the Avenger has to rescue and fight alongside him as an ally.

Bacon is a slimy villain, although why he wants to drink a magic potion of toxic waste to turn himself into a better-looking Toxic Avenger is still baffling to me, but he's someone we want to see taken down.  The movie doesn't take itself seriously, with the actors taking great care to have fun with the material, and a sense of sly self-awareness which only adds to the fun.  Everything starts with Dinklage, who we care for when he's Winston, and know the same likable schlub is inside the green guy killing his enemies with glee.