Percy Jackson is a typical, angst-ridden teenager, until he discovers he is more than a mere mortal. As he finds out he is actually half-god, half-mortal, he is thrown into an epic battle between good and evil.

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is predictable and cliché. Replace demigods with wizards in the synopsis and this film is quickly realized to be a lesser version of the “Harry Potter” franchise.

“Percy Jackson” is an action fantasy film that never manages to leave the genre of family entertainment. The film relies heavily on formula and standard plot devices for a viewing experience more mundane than epic.  

Chris Columbus, who also directed the first two “Harry Potter” films, tries to create a  fantastic computer-generated world to make up for the one-dimensional aspects of the film.

Not even Pierce Brosnan as a centaur can save the dull writing. The dialogue becomes heavy with empty attempts at morals, as the characters talk in meaningless generalities.

The film cannot stand on its own as a legitimate fantasy narrative. Columbus in “Percy Jackson” attempts to replicate the success of the Harry Potter phenomenon. But “Percy Jackson” remains merely a kids’ movie.

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” was written by Craig Titley and directed by Chris Columbus.