Today’s quick review: The Legend of Hercules. Alicides (Kellan Lutz), son of the conquerer Amphitryon (Scott Adkins), has a secret not even he knows: he is actually Hercules, the son of Zeus. Betrayed by Amphitryon and left for dead, Hercules must fight his way back to Greece, claim his true heritage, and overthrow his supposed father before Amphitryon’s son Iphicles (Liam Gerrigan) can marry Hebe (Gaia Weiss), the princess of Crete, against her will.
The Legend of Hercules is an action movie loosely based on Greek mythology. The Legend of Hercules presents a more grounded, realistic take on the story of Hercules, portraying the hero as a skilled but otherwise ordinary young prince. To that end, the movie sticks to a credible plot with only brief supernatural elements. However, weak acting, uninspired writing, and mediocre action keep The Legend of Hercules from living up to its potential.
The plot sticks to familiar but generic components. Hercules’ secret heritage, jealous brother, journey home, and revolt against his father all echo similar devices in other action and fantasy films. The Twelve Labors are almost entirely absent, along with most other distinctive elements of the Hercules myth. The movie does dip more into the supernatural later on, but the shift comes too late to change the direction or the tenor of the movie.
Even with this safe, pared-down version of Hercules’ story, The Legend of Hercules struggles to deliver on its vision. The pacing is rushed, the world-building is token at best, and the story holds few surprises. Kellan Lutz and Scott Adkins’ dramatic performances are lackluster, and no one from the supporting cast steps up to fill the acting void. The one saving grace is the action, which consists of serviceable but unexceptional sword combat.
Watch The Legend of Hercules only if you want a brief dose of action and aren’t too particular about quality. The film’s generic story and poor execution give the audience little to latch on to. For a similarly grounded reimagining of an ancient legend, check out King Arthur. For a movie with a similar premise and more craftsmanship, try Gladiator. For a more entertaining take on the myth, try the version of Hercules with Dwayne Johnson instead.
4.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.0 for passable action but little else.