Smith may be legendary, the film is not.

Rating: 4/10 (26 April 2008)

Don't get me wrong, I am Legend is by no means a horrible film. Just tired and predictable. Where it should be delivering solid scares it delivers tacky horror in the form of a hoard of poorly designed CGI zombies. Smith carries the entire film on his shoulders (what do you expect?) and does a great job of it too. Shame the logic and subtlety is leaked after the first 40 minutes. Within that 40 minutes however your get quality Smith time, his charm and charisma (and his dog Sam) manage to hold the film up nicely for this 40 minutes and with some decent scares being provided everything is going OK. Until the Dark Seekers are reviled Did nobody see "Alien"? That was a scary movie. Do you want to know why it was a scary movie? Subtlety! Direct Ridley Scott kept his horrific monster hidden for most of the film stalking and hiding in the shadows. You would only every get a glimpse of the Alien but that's what made the whole thing so scary, suspense and subtlety. With I am Legend however such things don't exist.
Based on the bestselling novel by Richard Matheson the story follows Dr Robert Neville the sole survivor of a epic disaster that has claimed millions of lives. Fortunately our hero is immune to this infection and, along with his pet Alsatian Sam, fights his way through countless number of Dark Seekers (Zombies) to find a cure for this disease. Things turn from bad to worse when he realizes one of his test subjects is the Alpha Female and naturally this makes our Alpha Male a bit angry. angry. Hordes of shoddy CGI zombies running towards our last man on earth and you wonder why the director was so keen to show us these beasties when the creatures looks that dumb, even with the help of Computer Graphics.
If it wasn't for the ever likable Smith and the 40 minute build up this movie wouldn't have a leg to stand on, the unfortunately underwhelming ending doesn't help either. Still it has more flavor than 28 Weeks Later and more smarts Than Resident Evil: Extinction. And well let's not even mention Black Sheep. I can proudly pronounce I am Legend the best zombie flick of 2007. A position which was not hard fought but even still.
Now a word on Dash Mihok's Alpha Male if you don't mind. Whilst scary upon first encounter he reviles himself to be no more that a cheap Mummy (1998) rip-off.Also prepare yourself for one of the most abrupt and unsatisfying ending of this century at what appears to be the climax of the film the action slows and the end credits roll. Without warning the film abruptly stops. If you don't mind being disappointed this film is for you.My final Verdict. Far more flavored than 28 Weeks Later, far smarter than Resident Evil: Extinction. While I am Legend may not have the subtly to classify it as a horror film it will do just fine as a mindless block buster. Legendary? Not quite!