- Release Date:
- US (wide): January 22, 2010
- Genre: Sci-Fi
- Other Genres: Action, Thriller
- Studio: Screen Gems
- Language: English
In movies, it's usually the Devil who comes to Earth seeking to bring about Armageddon, but in Legion it's God who decides to destroy mankind. That's the premise of this apocalyptic thriller, a sort of cross between Assault on Precinct 13 and End of Days. The Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany), having defied a vengeful God, comes to Earth to save humanity. Why does God want to smite us all again (the first time was the Great Flood, remember)? Because after centuries of war and hatred, He's finally grown tired of our s**t. Michael, however, hasn't lost faith in humanity.
The story takes place almost entirely at a roadside diner in the Mojave Desert somewhere between L.A. and Las Vegas. There, we meet the disparate band of humans -- diner owner Bob (Dennis Quaid), his son Jeep (Lucas Black), the cook Percy (Charles S. Dutton), unmarried pregnant waitress Charlie (Adrianne Palicki), gangsta-single dad Kyle (Tyrese Gibson), and requisite breakdown victims, the Anderson family (Jon Tenney, Kate Walsh and Willa Holland) -- who, with Michael's help, will make a last stand against God's minions, led by the Archangel Gabriel (Kevin Durand). The key to stopping God's plan of destruction lies in Charlie's womb. Her baby was apparently not meant to be born, so Michael must protect her from the droves of possessed passersby who will try to kill her and her unborn child. This child is destined to grow up to lead humanity out of the darkness. Think of this child as the John Connor to Charlie's Sarah Connor.
This "chosen one" subplot isn't the only story element familiar from other genre movies. As previously said, the overall gist of Legion is reminiscent of every "Devil comes to Earth" movie we've seen, just with God instead of Satan. Even the ensemble of characters are all familiar types: someone who has lost their faith (and, of course, another who is pious), someone who is more heroic than they ever expected they could be, someone tasked with a mission they didn't ask for, people who break down in the wrong place at the wrong time, a criminal who isn't as bad as he seems, and the good soldier who disobeys orders because it's the right thing to do. We know exactly where this story is headed from the moment we meet these characters, so there's precious little suspense generated.
The story takes place almost entirely at a roadside diner in the Mojave Desert somewhere between L.A. and Las Vegas. There, we meet the disparate band of humans -- diner owner Bob (Dennis Quaid), his son Jeep (Lucas Black), the cook Percy (Charles S. Dutton), unmarried pregnant waitress Charlie (Adrianne Palicki), gangsta-single dad Kyle (Tyrese Gibson), and requisite breakdown victims, the Anderson family (Jon Tenney, Kate Walsh and Willa Holland) -- who, with Michael's help, will make a last stand against God's minions, led by the Archangel Gabriel (Kevin Durand). The key to stopping God's plan of destruction lies in Charlie's womb. Her baby was apparently not meant to be born, so Michael must protect her from the droves of possessed passersby who will try to kill her and her unborn child. This child is destined to grow up to lead humanity out of the darkness. Think of this child as the John Connor to Charlie's Sarah Connor.
This "chosen one" subplot isn't the only story element familiar from other genre movies. As previously said, the overall gist of Legion is reminiscent of every "Devil comes to Earth" movie we've seen, just with God instead of Satan. Even the ensemble of characters are all familiar types: someone who has lost their faith (and, of course, another who is pious), someone who is more heroic than they ever expected they could be, someone tasked with a mission they didn't ask for, people who break down in the wrong place at the wrong time, a criminal who isn't as bad as he seems, and the good soldier who disobeys orders because it's the right thing to do. We know exactly where this story is headed from the moment we meet these characters, so there's precious little suspense generated.
It also doesn't help that all the characters stop the narrative momentum to make speeches. It's as if everyone's audition tapes were simply stitched together into a movie. Literally everyone stops to make a long, expository speech, each made with the same somber delivery. Maybe God wants to kill them because He's bored with all their moody yammering? Speaking of which, wouldn't God be able to simply strike down Charlie? He's God, after all. He needs to possess otherwise normal people to kill for Him? Did the filmmakers ever stop to think these things through?
Why do the archangels wear Lojack-style choke collars? Doesn't God trust that they're on His side? (Then again, after what Lucifer pulled, why take the chance of dealing with potentially unruly labor?) The image of an angel with a gun seems like a bad biker tattoo, and it also makes Michael just another gun-toting hero rather than someone unique. With all its guns, apocalyptic fervor, religious overtones and the suggestion that militias are the only protection we can rely on when Judgment Day arrives, Legion is like a parody of a red state extremist's wet dream.
The movie becomes increasingly dumb as the end nears (no pun intended). Without spoiling too much, all I'll say is that no newborn, no matter how special, could possibly survive what Stewart puts them through. While the relationship between Michael and Gabriel -- two brothers on different sides of a war -- is nicely underplayed by Bettany and Durand, the film's segues to their past in a militaristic heaven makes the afterlife look surprisingly dreary. Aren't we supposed to look forward to going there? Legion's Heaven looks like a local armory populated by weekend warriors. I've seen more bliss at the DMV. In the end, Legion is damned not by God but by dopey and long-winded dialogue, its inherent cheesiness, bland characters, and a very confused take on the Almighty.
Why do the archangels wear Lojack-style choke collars? Doesn't God trust that they're on His side? (Then again, after what Lucifer pulled, why take the chance of dealing with potentially unruly labor?) The image of an angel with a gun seems like a bad biker tattoo, and it also makes Michael just another gun-toting hero rather than someone unique. With all its guns, apocalyptic fervor, religious overtones and the suggestion that militias are the only protection we can rely on when Judgment Day arrives, Legion is like a parody of a red state extremist's wet dream.
The movie becomes increasingly dumb as the end nears (no pun intended). Without spoiling too much, all I'll say is that no newborn, no matter how special, could possibly survive what Stewart puts them through. While the relationship between Michael and Gabriel -- two brothers on different sides of a war -- is nicely underplayed by Bettany and Durand, the film's segues to their past in a militaristic heaven makes the afterlife look surprisingly dreary. Aren't we supposed to look forward to going there? Legion's Heaven looks like a local armory populated by weekend warriors. I've seen more bliss at the DMV. In the end, Legion is damned not by God but by dopey and long-winded dialogue, its inherent cheesiness, bland characters, and a very confused take on the Almighty.
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