Alone in the City

Will Smith’s character in I Am Legend goes about his solitary New York City life singing Bob Marley’s refrain about how “everything's gonna be all right,” and although you may want to believe – this is Smith, after all, alien-butt-kicker extraordinaire and all-around nice guy – you needn’t do more than take a look at his surroundings to know that no, not everything’s gonna be all right.

Smith plays scientist Robert Neville in this taut, edge-of-your-seat adaptation of Richard Matheson’s classic sci-fi novel directed by Francis Lawrence (Constantine).

I Am Legend opens in the not-so-distant future with a television news report hailing a medical breakthrough: a viral cure for cancer.

Three years later, this miracle has unleashed hell on earth.

An infection has spread, and the majority of the world’s population has been wiped out. New York City, a.k.a. Ground Zero, is abandoned – grass has grown waist-high and animals roam wild and free.

No one’s left except for Neville, his German Shepherd Sam, and the “dark seekers” – infected people who have mutated into strong, fast, feral beings that live in the dark and will infect, or devour, anything or anyone in their path.

Nothing’s all right.

For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging the city for food and supplies, faithfully sending out radio messages, desperately trying to find any other survivors.

Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood.

A great part of I Am Legend unfolds without words, and few will say this but it is a testament to Smith’s magnetic talent that his lack of conversation partners doesn’t prove to be an obstacle, but rather a bonus that allows us to really feel for him.

The movie’s not the best of its kind, but it is quite intense. To see this apocalyptic New York City is nothing short of arresting, and to see the erstwhile Fresh Prince of Bel-Air save day – yes, once again – is just as riveting as it ever has been. This is Smith, after all…not just the last man on earth, but probably the last great super star.

My Rating ***

Photo: Warner Bros.