I Am Legend (2007)

Based on a classic sci-fi novel that has been adapted to film a handful of times already, I Am Legend gives Will Smith the opportunity to be the sole attraction in a motion picture. A vaccine that, at first, cures cancer turns out to have ugly side-effects and converts human beings into pale, gollum-esque monsters. If this sounds to you like Cast Away with zombies, you’re not entirely wrong.

While the infection spreads across Manhattan, the US military takes drastic steps and isolates the urban island from the rest of the world in hopes of containing the creatures. Trapped amidst the chaos is Dr. Robert Neville (Smith), a brilliant virologist, who comes to be the last normal human in a decaying metropolis. Neville is somehow immune to the disease and has been searching for a cure for three years.

With his pet dog as his only companion (and possibly his last bastion of sanity), Neville struggles to survive with limited resources while bracing himself at night for periodic attacks with wandering packs of the nocturnal creatures. A series of slowly-unfolding but shocking events rock Neville’s world and he finds himself fighting desperately for his life.

Will Smith performs admirably as the fixture of the film but he lacks the right kind of presence it takes to lead a one-man show. I can’t explain it any better than that. Tom Hanks had it in Cast Away and Kevin Costner had it in Dances with Wolves but Will Smith just isn’t a stand-alone kind of actor. He does the best he can but I think his comedy past makes it hard to embrace him is such a grimly serious role.

The apocalyptic scenario and the eerie vision of an almost unpopulated Manhattan are chilling and good for a few thrills. The trouble lies in thinking about what you are seeing. The devil is in the details, as they say, and when you examine the details, things begin to fall apart. Some things, like Neville’s fortunate supply of non-perishable food is passable given the three year time frame. Other things, like the fact that he is still able to use gasoline that hasn’t been treated through three years of summers and winters, all but shatter your suspension of disbelief.

Had the pace of the film been quicker and more action-oriented, the filmmakers would have succeeded better in pulling the wool over our eyes. But we are treated to a number of scenes where Neville works away in his quiet isolation, giving us time to examine the details of his world. When the action does ratchet up though, Smith rises to the occasion and puts all his effort into portraying fear and desperation. This is where he succeeds most. Not as a driven scientist trying to find a cure; not as a man hopeful for companionship; but as a man scared witless about the terror that surrounds him.

Portions of this film are too reliant on special effects, mostly the scenes involving the man-monsters that have taken over. Apocalyptic disaster films don’t always need cunning digital trickery to succeed (case in point- 28 Days Later) but, after so many films of this nature over the years, I Am Legend was wise to try to differentiate itself somehow. It just surprises me that a film with a $150 million budget could have some abysmal effects like the zombie-dog attack scene.

The creatures themselves are not very satisfying and troubled me all film. How exactly did this virus cause them all to become pale, hairless creatures that barely look human at all? Despite all the science thrown at us when Neville is looking for a cure, there is no suitable answer for why the masses of infected have devolved so much. Partway through the film we are led to believe that there is more to these hive-minded simpletons than meets the eye but nothing ever comes from this kernel of promise.

The ending of the film is interesting and creates a different spin on the title than the source material. However, this ending is wildly different from how the book ends and is not nearly as satisfying. It just goes to show you that some things should not be tampered with. Evidently, an alternate ending was shot that was somewhat more in line with the book. Having read the details of this alternate ending, I can tell you that I would have preferred it to what the filmmakers give us.

On the whole, I Am Legend is a pretty decent watch. It will give you goose bumps and entertain you for sure. If you think about the film too much afterward though, some of the magic wears off. With the state of Hollywood productions these days, this is almost to be expected but that really isn’t a valid excuse.

RATING: 3.25 out of 5