A bit hit and myth but still fun

THE first Percy Jackson movie back in 2010 was very nearly the last.

Bland teen god Percy all at sea

THE first Percy Jackson movie back in 2010 was very nearly the last.

Though young Percy certainly had a legion of followers, courtesy of his epic exploits on the printed page, the fanbase didn't quite come out in full force for his big-screen debut.

Put simply, this oh-so-modern teenage son of an Ancient Greek god seemed like too much of a home-brand Harry Potter for his own good.

As played by Logan Lerman - now 21 years of age and looking a little too old to be a demigod still in high school - Percy remains as blandly charisma-challenged as ever.

However, the second set of adventures ripped from the books of best-selling author Rick Riordan offers far more fun and frivolous fizz than before.

Though you'll never be hanging on the edge of your seat, Percy and his posse of earthbound higher beings are quite OK to hang out with for a while.

Director Thor Freudenthal (Hotel For Dogs) has a made a conscious decision to lighten the tone of proceedings this time around.

All that adolescent angst once directed at the immortal powerbrokers of Mt Olympus is now channelled into a simple rescue-and-retrieve mission in the Bermuda Triangle.

It is here that Percy, together with close friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), bitter rival Clarisse (Leven Rambin) and his long-lost one-eyed brother Tyson (new franchise recruit Douglas Smith), must locate the whereabouts of the fabled Golden Fleece before, you know, all hell breaks loose and stuff.

Caring intently about what will happen is never a factor here. In fact, the supposed serious moments in Sea Of Monsters prove to be the film's most disposable.

What does remain in the memory is a nimble sense of humour, some randomly impressive special effects, and an all-too-brief appearance by Nathan Fillion as the great messenger god Hermes (now running a courier company).

> PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS [PG]

Director: Thor Freudenthal (Diary Of a Wimpy Kid)

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Leven Rambin, Douglas Smith

"Minor commotion in the ocean"

Rating: 3/5