"I Am Legend" - C+

The latest drop in the Hollywood big bucket o' blockbusters is the Will Smith vehicle, "I Am Legend." A nice departure from the holiday doldrums of pure drivel, this title delivers . . . well, to some degree. At least, it isn't flat horrible.

How it goes: Humanity is cheering the latest in medical discoveries — a cure for cancer realized by monkeying around with a common virus. Everything is peachy, until just about every person in the world is "killed" as the cancer treatment becomes a mutated, airborne zombie-making superbug. Those that become the living dead shun the light, hiding by day and eating everyone else at night.

Will's an Army research scientist/doctor determined to find a cure for the disease. He ends up staying in New York City and becomes, as far as he's concerned, the last man on earth. But, he never gives up the quest for a positive resolution.

Hollywood reruns: The movie is an adaptation of the classic novel by the same title. The book is a staple of the genre written by the masterful Richard Matheson, he a driving force behind those creepy original "Twilight Zones" and other spinetinglers.

Matheson's work is a how-to on horror and zombie tales; the story is an original attempt to disquiet you through the terror of loneliness, the peril of having your flesh eaten and the very real chance that no matter what you do, life as you know it is over. It's a great book with a lot to offer.

The film adaptations include the first and best showing, "The Last Man on Earth," with the immortal Vincent Price, and the later lackluster, "The Omega Man," with the one and only Charlton Heston.

So, how does Smith's iteration of the Robert Neville character stack up? In short, not bad.

Some of his scenes are really gripping; you can buy the funk of isolation and the drive to adapt propelling the character. But a couple of times the veneer is worn and we get to see the lead leaning towards his goofy state, and the overall pacing gets sluggish for a moment.

However, the biggest drawback here is the CG, which is plan awful. I mean, there are times it looks like someone took the worst effects from those cheesy "Mummy" titles and slammed them against another Smith picture — the cinematic travesty that is "I, Robot."

All the way around, this is a pretty good take on the timeless tale. Some of the imagery is captivating and the more intense moments bring along the scary. Check your hyper-discriminating senses at the door, and enjoy an out-of-season popcorn flick.

Grade: C+ (of the highest degree possible)