Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Scrappy and kind-hearted, with odd flashes of high camp - even if its universe of patchworked Greek mythological elements still makes little sense.

Precious little about this is particularly memorable, but it's the odd touch of local color that makes these routine acts of derring-do a bit easier to bear.

The kids are charmless, the adults bemused.

This ham-fisted, teen-centric blend of Harry Potter and the infinitely more spellbinding Jason and the Argonauts comes within a cyclops' eyelash of being so bad it's almost (but not quite) good.

There is a better film about gods and monsters: it's called Gods and Monsters.

Lerman is adroit at looking eager and battle-worthy but not too cocky in a film as much about character development as sword play.

It seems far too early in Lerman's career for a paycheck film to enter the picture.

Younger audiences may still find themselves entertained by Sea of Monsters, but by slowing down the pace and having some faith in its actors, it could have been so much more.

Unfortunately, Monsters is relentlessly derivative and a watered-down sci-fi saga that the tweens and teens will tune out with all the nonchalant gesture of popping a stubborn pimple on their faces.

A slight but fun romp through Greek mythology with a modern twist...Grown-ups will hate it, but tween-age kids will have a blast.