Will Smith tries becoming legendary in "I Am Legend"(the third film based on the Richard Matheson book) but falls short in the end. In what turns out to be more of a chiller than a blockbuster thriller, he once again rehashes other previously made films with his own splashes of wit and big budget flair(similar to how "Independence Day" resembled many "Star Wars"/alien films). He can't seem to strike gold with an original piece yet. [Even though "Hitch" was a bit different, it was predictable. "MIB" gave him his most original and free-flowing of characters yet(that I have seen).]
Smith plays a military scientist and soldier who is connected to a miracle formula which--instead of curing cancer as intended--unleashes a virus and becomes a plague turning many into feral zombies that hate sunlight. The crisis starts in 2009, but the movie advances to 2012. Taking most of the blame onto himself, Robert(Smith) sits himself at "ground zero" in hopes of righting his wrong. His only companion is a german shepherd named Sam with which he hunts for food and night creepers. His only solaces are his free reign over NYC in the daytime when he can do anything he wants(including comical scenes with department store mannequins which are the best part of a film that should not be so comical) and his Bob Marley music which becomes an echoed theme(and suggests to me at least two better title options including "I Am One" and "Light Into Darkness"). A series of hunts take place with cautious precision til [SPOILER]Smith's character makes one foolish mistake and ends up in the hands of other "immune" survivors(yes, other survivors...so, not alone) played by Alice Braga and Charlie Tahan. The ending is reminiscent of "28 Days Later" and rather weak/incomplete.
Besides the humor injected into dramatic/suspensful scenes(most ofen with the mannequins)--which Smith excells at--his character's cautious routines and some of the "zombie" actions/tactics give the movie great potential. [I saw so many things they could/should have done.][I should also mention the undertones of religion and racism worked into the story.]
However, making the "monsters" CG and hurt by sunlight(as well as slowed by cold) takes away some of the fright that their movie relatives provide in abundance. [I'm not fully complaining because I get too "freaked" by movie makeup and gore/blood. Thus, this film was more tolerable. And, every time I looked at Smith, I saw Forrest Whittaker who'd better fit the part sans agility.] Add this to the dull story and the rather abrupt ending, and you have a much tamer zombie flick with few surprises. [Which is a shame because I really liked the hunting and mannequin scenes.] It fares better in the Sci-Fi/Horror genre than Tom Cruise did with "War of the Worlds", but that is not saying much.
Overall, I give this nicer date version of a chiller movie two stars out of four for its wit and potential(but not much else). If you can't stand horror movies but dare to get your feet wet, try this one. Otherwise, for those already exposed, or "infected, by bigger scares, you're not missing anything.
--brainstormer
freelance movie critic and participant in the Thoughts.com blogging experience
iamlegend.warnerbros.com/
iamlegendsurvival.warnerbros.com/
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