SPOILER ALERT: why "the wolfman" comes up short

The trailers got me.  First, his hotness Benecio Del Toro - *sigh*.  I will go to ANY movie with BDT in it.  Then, the goth scenery, the cinematography, the time period.  The makings of a deliciously frightening and to-drool-for big screen experience.  Then, mid-way into the pic, Benecio climbs atop a gargoyle and howls at the moon.  You may ask, "Sure, but isn't it a werewolf movie and don't werewolves do that?"  Well, yes, the werewolves I know do howl at the moon.  They lost me, however, with the over-the-top cheese factor.  Think "Teen Wolf" 2010.  Kudos to the special effects folks, but the makeup and the werewolf-factor were way over done.  I started chuckling to myself rather than being on the edge of my seat, shielding my eyes through opened fingers to catch Benecio.  The howling and the over-done "wolfiness" just became too much.  Don't get me wrong. I did plenty of real eye shielding, but then I'd hear a howl and it was all over - I was laughing.  I wanted to like it and it is entertaining, so I'm not discouraging anyone from the experience.  I just think it could have been so much more.  More like "American Werewolf in London" with the suspense and frightening metamorphosis.  Oh well.  Benecio's still got it and he makes it worth seeing.  ;)