Hollywood Product: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (1)

GENRE: Harry Potter wannabe

THE PITCH: Dyslexic teen Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) discovers his father was actually the Greek deity Poseidon (Kevin McKidd). After the theft of Zeus’ “master bolt,” Percy finds himself embroiled in a conflict between gods, monsters and a summer camp populated with “half-bloods.”

MONEY SHOTS: Percy first learns of the reality of Greek myths when one of his teachers turns into a wicked harpy. As the son of the sea god, Percy discovers his neat-o water powers that can heal injuries and make waves, literally. Percy and his sidekicks, ass-kicking Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and goat-legged Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), fight a reasonably awesome Hydra at the Nashville Parthenon. Hades’ volcanic city looks like a really cool video game setting.

WORST LINES, IN GENERAL: Grover’s comic relief jokes sound like a middle-aged screenwriter’s idea of how teenagers talk: “This place is officially dope!” “It’s like High School without the Musical,” etc. And when Grover bleats like a goat, well, part of you will die inside.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2 stars. Directed by Chris Columbus. Stars Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario. Rated PG. Opens Fri., Feb. 12. At area theaters.

WORST LINE, SPECIFICALLY: “That’s amazing. A complete replica of the Parthenon in Nashville,” Annabeth remarks on their arrival. Come on, she wouldn’t say “in Nashville” while they’re actually in Nashville.

Continue Reading “Hollywood Product: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief”

(Photo © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.)