Viewed – 25 January 2008  Cinema

Ok, so what we have here has been in the pipeline for a long time, and even was once set to star Arnold Schwarzenegger (before he went all Political), and with the advent of the acclaimed 28 Days & Weeks Later films, the idea is no longer the fresh piece of high-concept cinema it once might have been.  But hell, we have Will Smith as the (possibly) last man on earth, desperate to find a vaccine to a virus outbreak after a cure for cancer goes horribly wrong.   That’ll put bums on seats right there, trust me.

New York gets the deserted-streets treatment, and its stunning, almost beautiful in its desolation, and as Smith hunts for food, partnered by his faithful dog Sam, his last real friend on earth, you’re right there with him.  This whole film has been done with an attention to the human condition and the plight of Will’s solitary lifestyle, that its a somewhat heart breaking and very convincing portrayal…and Smith pulls it off remarkably, handling the tear jerking moments equally as well as the action, and little touches like stilted conversations with shop Mannequins he’s placed around the city for ‘company’, really bring the message home.

Of course, like 28 Days Later, we also have rabid zombie-types, that although no where near as chillingly scary as those in Danny Boyle’s classic horror…they are still a ferocious bunch, and add plenty of adrenaline to proceedings, that otherwise things may have got a little boring.  So at the end of the day, this offers some gripping, heart-rendering moments and satisfying action, but not many surprises…sad then that its no longer such an original idea, but as ideas go – it still kicks ass.

Verdict:  4 /5