Solid, But Really Awkward At Times

Rating: 7/10 (18 December 2007)

Oh joy, another last man on earth movie with zombies, that's the next thing this world needs! Putting sarcasm about the film's plot aside, I Am Legend is really an interesting movie to sum up. Will Smith plays a lone doctor in the middle of a barren New York City during the year 2012, the year that gas prices-according to the film-will be $68 a gallon. Apparently, three years earlier a medication was discovered that could supposedly cure disease, but it slowly turned into zombie-like infesting epidemic. As you might expect, Smith's character is immune to this infestation and he's off fending for himself trying to find a cure with only his canine friend.
The set up for the film isn't the most original in the world, but there's enough in the film to at least carry it all the way through. But what's really neat about the set design is how New York looks as a deserted wasteland; it's downright mesmerizing. Now, based on the trailers for this film it's easy to look at it as an almost completely action-filled flick with Smith tearing the infected humans apart. Do be warned: this really isn't the case with the film and it's easy to be mislead by a few reports and trailers. For instance, with a name like I Am Legend it would only make sense for one to think it's another way for Will Smith to say "I am a bad man" (or something along those lines). But again, this isn't the case; he's a doctor merely trying to find a cure in the city. Speaking of Will Smith's character, he does an excellent job carrying out his role, even if he doesn't have that much to really work with he manages to make the best of it.
With that in-mind, don't be surprised when you find the bulk of the film's faster parts to be merely incidental. While the movie does go for multiple genre styles, ranging from horror to drama, a good bit of the film's relatively short screen time is dedicated to dialogue and monologue parts. As a result, I Am Legend winds up being a rather slow film with the action scenes breaking up the monotony very sparingly. And do note that the film has a PG-13 rating, so the amount of action a movie like this could go without hitting the R rating is so far. If this were a straight-up balls-to-the-wall action extravaganza it's likely the film would've walked away with an R-rating.
A good majority of the film has Will Smith carrying his role all by himself, with the occasional flashback also trying to break up the repetition. And really, the film needs as many of these parts as it can get, because it's only so long before a movie following one lone character begins to lose its touch. These parts do tend to work pretty well since it offers some background to Smith's character and the state New York City is in during the film. There are also a fair number of moments used to provide comic relief in the film, which do usually work. But there are a few that are clearly unintentional and at times extremely awkward. I won't spoil every one, but do be prepared for Smith to start impersonating a scene from Shrek and yell at a mannequin.
The ending does at least wrap things up well enough to where it doesn't feel like a sequel is so obvious. However, it isn't exactly the most satisfying of endings and it really pushed the meaning of "morality" too far. Not to mention it's not even the most believable ending that could've been picked out of a good load of options. And by this I mean believable in resolving everything, not in whether it's actually possible or not. So again, be prepared for some awkward and on a couple occasions nonsensical moments. Will Smith fans will do well to give this film a shot, but keep an open mind when heading into the theater.