Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Greek mythology gets a 21st century update in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” Directed by Chris Columbus, “Percy Jackson,” based on the popular book series by Rick Riordan, combines the structure of a classic Greek hero tale with a present-day sensibility to some success, but falls prey to Hollywood’s ritual dumbing down of successful children’s literature.

The basic premise for “Percy Jackson” is designed to make Greek myths accessible to a younger audience. These heroes face contemporary challenges they overcome through showdowns with mythical creatures and an adventure that takes them from high school, to the underworld and to Mt. Olympus. There is a lot of potential for a story like this, but unfortunately, the film version fails to capitalize and is troubled by undeveloped characters and storylines that lack fluidity.

Logan Lerman is Percy Jackson, an average teenager struggling with dyslexia and ADHD who hopes to escape the tyrannical hold of his dead-beat step-father. Percy’s dyslexia and ADHD are actually characteristics of his true identity as the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas. Similarly, Percy’s best friend and Satyr guardian Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) is introduced in the film with crutches, which are really just a cover for his goat legs. Their wheelchair-bound teacher Mr. Brunner (Pierce Brosnan) is actually a centaur hiding his true form. It is a world where weaknesses are just hidden strengths, an appealing concept to any kid who has struggled with being different.

Percy’s identity is finally revealed to him when a Fury, a deadly creature hiding in the form of a substitute teacher, attacks him during a field trip and demands Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt from him. Zeus (Sean Bean) has wrongfully accused his brother Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) of using his son to steal the bolt, and the loss of this powerful weapon sends the gods to the brink of war.
A Minotaur sent by Hades (Steve Coogan), god of the underworld, kidnaps his mother as she delivers him to Camp Half-Blood, a training ground for the world’s demigods, and from the improbable number of demigods there, it seems the gods keep very busy with regular visits to Earth. Hades motives are clear: Percy need only give him the stolen lightning bold and his mother will be set free. Despite not having the bolt, Percy embarks on a classic Greek adventure to get his mother back.

But the hero cannot make it through the journey alone. Percy is accompanied by Grover, whose role as the so-called comedic relief is more cringe than laugh-worthy. Then there’s Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), daughter of Athena the goddess of wisdom, whose tough-girl attitude is a counterpart to Percy’s naiveté and is a natural love interest.

Their journey mixes mythological creatures with recognizable locations, such as Las Vegas or the Empire State Building. Each bump along the road tests different qualities of a hero, such as wit, bravery and selflessness. However, the heroes experiences no real sacrifice or suffering along the way, shielding the film’s young audience from the darker side of Greek mythology and providing zero intrigue for any older viewers in the crowd.

Percy’s mother, played by Catherine Keener in a role unworthy of her talent, is selfless and loving. Her story could have given the story much-needed emotional pull, but it is hardly explored. This film introduces more characters than its plot has room for. Uma Thurman as the snake-haired Medusa is remarkable if only for the 20 minutes or so she is on screen. Rosario Dawson as Persephone, Hades’ reluctant wife, embodies the tragedy of her character, but her performance, like Thurman’s, stands apart from the rest of the film. Both characters are mythological superstars in their own right but are reduced to gimmicks in “Percy Jackson.”

The film’s biggest oversight was with Luke (Jake Abel), son of the messenger to the gods, Hermes, and his troubled view of his father’s abandonment. Luke represents the repressed hate and anger Percy feels towards his father. What could have been a poignant story of childhood pain and confusion is reduced to fleeting moments of intrigue that are never realized.

“Percy Jackson” is a moderate action movie with a wonderful premise that fails to live up to its full potential. Weak characterization and an overly ambitious cast list make the film feel crowded and lose focus too often. The film gets so preoccupied in updating and demystifying Greek mythology that it forgets about the passion and tragedy that made them so appealing in the first place.