Great idea, but they forgot a compelling story

Rating: 3/10 (14 July 2008)

I never read the book or saw the first movie, so I had no pre-conceived notions going in.
It starts out very well, with scenes of a post-apocalyptic New York that is very well done. Intrigueing. They also do a good job of building what it's like to be a person in his position, thinking maybe he is the last "person" on earth. It seemed to me that they just kept building, and building, and never got to a compelling story. I was waiting for some twists or developments, but just found myself becoming annoyed when it never came. Spoilers******* Then the woman and boy show up, and I'm figuring, here we go, now we'll learn some things. Ahhh...no. We drove up from Delaware. Great. Let me finish my cornflakes before I ask you any questions. By the time the point came where they entered his house, I didn't really care if he died.
Why was he hunting deer? What was the deal with the lead zombie? So how exactly did this small woman and kid save him from so many crazed zombies at night? Good idea, good special effects (the zombie CGI didn't bother me), but lacking in a story. Yes, I get it, it's hard being the last person, but something needs to happen. A big disappointment.