Now Playing: After Earth

Nothing says Summer Blockbuster quite like a Will Smith movie - this man can really bring it.  Independence Day.  I Am Legend.  I, Robot.  Solid.  And now, it's become a family business.  We met Jaden Smith for the Karate Kid remake and I liked him then too. 

So, After Earth.  A father-son action flick about family, forgiveness, trust, and respect.  Tugged at all the right heartstrings and was suspenseful to boot.  It was interesting to see the senior Smith take such a backseat on the action, allowing junior to take up as much of the screen he needed to get the job done.  And while sometimes it felt a bit heavy-handed ("what did you want me to do?!"), it tried to make up for it with beautiful cinematography (yummy old growth forests) and excellent special effects.  Oh, and let's not forget the surprisingly moving and poignant performances of Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo. 

There is only so much the actors can do, though.  Not as provocative or as challenging Cloud Atlas, and just missing the mark on entertainment.  2 out of 5 stars. And let's start a petition begging Will to suit up and headline again.