This third installment in the Marvel mutant superhero series needs its new characters more than the previous films did because it fails to develop the ones it has inherited. New director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) hamhandedly trots the fresh faces out as if they were performing tricks at a dog show, but the better actors, especially Kelsey Grammer as the blue-haired Beast, are able to establish engaging identities. The original stars – at least those who aren’t killed off – do little more than stand in front of wind machines.
