PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS – The Review

Seems like only yesterday we were saying goodbye to another film series based on a series of young adult novels when the vampires and werewolves from the “Twilight” saga bid adieu to the multiplexes. Well, before Katniss and crew arrive for another “Hunger Games” survival contest, and prior to a new series based on the “Divergent” books begins, we’re getting another movie adventure with Percy Jackson. You might ask, “Who?”.  It’s been all of three years since movie audiences were introduced to him in PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF in 2010, so to the surprise of some (including Entertainment Weekly that wondered why this was getting a sequel) here comes PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS. Having a YA literary degree doesn’t guarantee you second film, as the fans of “The Golden Compass” and “Cirque du Freak” books found out. So, will we get to visit young Mr. J and his pals at the cinemas over the next few years? We’ll just have to see how this one fares…

The opening moments try to get us up to speed (a good thing, since I’ve never read the books and missed the first flick). Percy and his pals are “demigods”, the offspring of unions between the classic ancient Greek gods of mythology and humans. They live safely and secretly on an island camp. In a flashback we see a group of titans (murderous giant monster men) chasing a quartet of pre-teen demigods as they attempt to get back to the camp entrance. One of the kids gives her life in order for the others to live. As she is about to die, the gods transform her into a huge magical tree which emits a force field that prevents any attackers from entering the camp. In the present day, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is pitted against the boastful, competitive Claresse (Levin Rambin) in a contest of mental and physical skills presided over by the camp’s adults Mr. D (Stanley Tucci) and a centaur, Chiron (Anthony Head) while Percy’s pals Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and a faun, Grover (Brandon T Jackson), cheer him on. Later the adults are surprised when an unkown demigod waltzes into camp. Turns out he is a son of Poseidon just like Percy. But since his mother was a water nymph, Tyson (Douglas Smith) is a cyclops. Everyone is even more shocked when a vicious robotic, fire-shooting bull bursts through the protective shield. Turns out that the magic tree is dying and the only cure is the mythical golden fleece. While Clarisse begins an official quest, Percy and his pals Annabeth, Grover, and half-brother Tyson head out on their own before an old enemy can snatch up the fleece and bring the father of the gods Kronos back to life and destroys everyone.

Fresh off his terrific lead performance in THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, Lerman is a confident screen hero with the right touch of vulnerability. He seems genuinely worried when facing off against towering menaces while also feeling dejected when his pop Poseidon never answers his call. Jackson is a great comic relief as is Smith, who brings a real sweetness to the lanky, good-natured, one-eyed innocent. Rambin and Daddario bring an almost “Betty and Veronica” vibe to their roles as the ladies in Percy’s life. Annabeth is smitten with him, while Claresse’s contemptuous sneers try to mask her attraction. As energetic as the young actors are, they can’t quite match the charms of some the screen veterans here. Wonderful to see Anthony Head back in the role of the wise mentor to the kids (a comfortable fit after being Buffy Summers’s faithful “watcher” Giles for seven TV seasons). Tucci is delightful as the absent-minded, former party god Mr.D (love his frustrated look as he tries in vain to enjoy a goblet of wine). But the man most guilty of stealing scenes is repeat offender Nathan Fillion (just as he did in the recent MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING) in his far too brief cameo as the working stiff Hermes. He’s even given a throw-away joke that references a beloved old TV show cancelled too soon. Get this guy another feature film quick!

But all the efforts of the talented cast can’t disguise the film’s main problem. As much as the recent flop RIPD owed much to MEN IN BLACK, Percy Jackson owes far too much to the hero of another franchise (recently concluded) based on a YA book series: Harry Potter! Instead of the school we’re got an island camp. Both heroes have a foretold destiny. Harry’s got a magic wand while Percy has a nifty retractable sword. We can practically check things off a list, right down to the numerous, weightless CGI beasties (a scorpion-wolf, whatever!). A near-sighted  hungry giant cyclops is a bit of fun, but he seems to have wondered in from a Hobbit flick. Director Thor Freudenthal just can’t give the film a consistent pace. Plot, then action, then explaining, then plot, then action just repeats in an endless loop. If it looks as though one character is doomed, we know that some bit of magic or god intervention will set all things right once more so everyone can be back for the next one in the series. There is a nifty graphic animated sequence that tells us the origins of the gods and the fleece, but it’s not enough to get us past this formulaic, derivative story. The 3D’s pretty needless, no matter how many water drops are “left” on the camera lens during the ocean scenes. Sorry Percy, but your demigods are not nearly as entertaining as the Hogwarts Class of 2011.

2 Out of 5 Stars