Reviews of "Hercules," starring Dwayne Johnson have been a mix of relative praise and warranted knocks at the large-scale summer release, though a commonality among critics is the shocked approval of the film's director, Brett Ratner.

Ratner, who was previously associated with lighter, buddy comedies such as "Rush Hour" and "Horrible Bosses," departed from his typical genre to direct "Hercules." Variety chief movie critic Scott Foundas wrote in his review a reminder of when Ratner previously tried to direct a big-budget action film with the "incomprehensible" title "X-Men: The Last Stand" in 2006 and Ratner "appeared profoundly out of his element." However, Foundas claimed Ratner has since learned from his past, directing "Hercules" battle sequences, along with cinematographer Dante Spinotti, "in clean, coherent pieces of action that build steadily in intensity."

USA Today critic Scott Bowles credited Ratner with making "a sword-and-sandal spectacle that entertains." Bowles said that compared with this year's "The Legend of Hercules," Ratner's interpretation of the son of Zeus is "miles above."

"[Hercules] is more about flexing brawn with just a dash of brain," Bowles wrote. "And given the rash of bland sword-and-sandal flicks, a dash might be just the trick."

Much praise is given to the leading actor, Johnson, along with his supporting cast, which includes Ian McShane and William Hurt. Johnson portrayed the literally larger-than-life character as more man than immortal; his insane physicality allowed for believable Herculean strength but not entitlement.

The film's plot is built off of late author Steve Moore's five-issue comic series "Hercules: the Thracian Wars." Screenwriters Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos transformed Moore's work into the PG-13 version of the demigod, where Hercules' divinity is part of legend but one that he is self aware of.

"Hercules" is rated PG-13 and is playing nationwide in theaters Friday.