Will Smith stars in this update of what was first a novel, and then made into two unsuccessful movies in the past. This one with its huge star and huge opening will have no problem being successful.  As a movie to last for decades, it will be lost and will never become the “legend” I’m sure the filmmakers was hoping it would be. 

In the very near future, I Am Legend suggests that we will find a cure for cancer only to have it mutate into a world ending virus that will kill 90% of the world’s population, and basically turn the remaining 10% into a mutated human-like flesh-eating zombie of sorts. Will Smith plays the lone human who has yet to suffer the virus, and as a biologist himself, he chooses to try and save humanity by creating a vaccine.  The movie starts three years later in 2010 as Smith’s character (as in many of his movies like Independence Day, Men In Black and I,Robot) tries to save humanity.  The good thing for Smith is that he has become a much better actor since Independence Day and now is able to infuse much more emotion into his characters letting you see him lose his sanity by being the potentially only person left in a world overridden by nature and with a handful of aggressive mutants to deal with.

Smith’s box office bravado and entertainment is what will bring people to the multiplex. He can open a movie better than anyone.  To get people to receive this movie with good word of mouth, this movie needs the right actor and they found it in Smith.  The special effects are not amazing.  Desolate cities are better depicted in movies like Vanilla Sky.

The unfortunate thing for this movie is that it is hard to relate to.  We don’t have any buzz in the US now of some impeding crisis like we did with Bird Flu and West Nile Virus some years ago, so we don’t see this movie as a real possibility which makes it lose its emotional appeal.  With Smith being the only actor within 85% of the film, we are entertained a bit and wonder what he’ll do next but the plot is so simple that there is not much to look forward to, which is why this movie will not become a legend like Smith’s character does for our future.

Similar recommended titles: Outbreak and 12 Monkeys