Smith gives I Am Legend added boost

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2007)

Will Smith can hold the screen all on his own. People that are looking for a faithful adaptation of the Mathenson's novel will surely be disappointed but it's a movie, what do you expect? Not everything that comes straight from the book can work cinematically, as long as you don't change the feel of the book, then tweak it to your pleasure.
Robert Neville (Smith) is a scientific military doctor living in an abandoned New York City, trying to find a cure that has wiped out 99 percent of the earth's population. The other 1% are either dead or zombie like.
He keeps his sanity because of the routine he goes through, whether it's saying hi to mannequins at a video store or talking to his dog Sam to keep him company.
Smith has to play Neville with such conviction and believability because weird things can happen when you have no human contact for over three years. He does that with much gusto. One of the better performances of the year.
Sure, people that love the book probably will hate the film. Others will question how a drama for almost 2/3's of the film now becomes an action flick. People will also ask, if Neville really does believe he's the last man standing, why does he continue to try to save these Voldemorts or vampires or whatever they want to call themselves. But you don't ask those questions when you're watching this movie. You'll be too into the world of Neville, where New York City has become so desolate, and the only way to save himself is to find a cure to save these things, whatever you want to call them.