Potential to be more.

Rating: 7/10 (22 March 2009)

The year is 2012 and New York is an abandoned, derelict and ruined city. Alone in this barren, and utterly disturbing vision of New York is Robert Neville and Sam, his dog, who are the only survivors of a deadly virus that has wiped out humanity.
First and foremost I have never read the book to which this film was adapted nor have I seen the previous two films connected to the book. I can however state that I Am Legend is brought vividly to life by the superb special effects. The images of New York are impeccable and for that reason alone this film is worth seeing. Will Smith is on top-form, and he is wonderfully supported by the talents of the dogs that played Sam. Indeed I Am Legend works well in places, there are a number of memorable scenes (Neville talking to the mannequins, his radio message, the chills when he goes into the dark looking for Sam, and playing golf aboard USS Intrepid) including the perfectly rendered relationship between Neville and Sam, and their final scene, which is heart-breaking.
Unfortunately, I Am Legend fails to be more than it could have been. The beings which roam the New York streets at night are not that badly designed but I wish they hadn't been created with the same lack of mental capabilities or humanity as those zombies created in '28 Days Later' and given such super-human strength. The appearance of two other survivors into Neville's lonely existence is not a bad thing but it lacked depth. I don't know but I guess I wanted something more grander or philosophical from I Am Legend which unfortunately does not transpire.
I Am Legend is a good film, and I want to like it more than I do, as it has the right ingredients to make it great. However, it lacks something... Maybe a bit of heart and soul, which it has in portions but not in sufficient substance.