| Although he has yet to
chronicle my life, with "The Day After Tomorrow",
director/writer Roland Emmerich solidifies his legacy as the king in
apocalyptic drama. Best known for the blockbuster "Independence
Day" and mankind's efforts to save the world from alien destruction
and annihilation, this time Emmerich has mankind trying to save itself
from itself and the catastrophic and cataclysmic events occurring around
the world as the result of global warming.
|
Photo © Copyright 20th Century Fox
|
|
Paleoclimatologist Jack Hall suspects
something is wrong, terribly wrong, when weather patterns around the
world go haywire. Tornadoes hit downtown Los Angeles. Blizzards blanket
New Delhi with snow. Gallon sized hailstones hit Tokyo. These events can
only mean one thing in Hall's mind - a new ice age is coming. As Jack
tries to explain the ramifications of mankind's greed and ecological
abuse, not to mention the relationship between the North Atlantic
current and worldwide climate conditions, to a room full of
meteorological experts and politicians, he learns that his son Sam is in
New York falling victim to this extinction level event. It seems that
Sam is trapped in the New York Public Library when a tidal wave strikes
the Eastern seaboard and particularly New York City. As Sam tries to
survive plummeting temperatures (as well as some rather hungry animals
that have escaped from the zoo), Jack frantically tries to make his way
to New York from Washington to save his son.
Okay, so the plot similarities to
"Independence Day" are more than just coincidental. But there
are some variations. This time we have "everyman" Dennis Quaid
trying to save the world instead of the more cerebral Jeff Goldblum and
instead of going to Washington from New York, we're going to New York
from Washington. But, thanks to outstanding visual effects compliments
of CGI wizardry, the Emmerich trademarks are intact - mayhem, madness,
disaster and overwhelming destruction of recognizable public monuments
at the hands of every possible natural and manmade element. The sheer
magnitude of the on screen disaster is impressively mind boggling.
Not one to overlook strong acting
performances amid apocalyptic mayhem, Emmerich again fills the screen
with incredible talent - and none more so than Dennis Quaid. One of the
most under rated actors of our day, Quaid is - as always - a standout.
As Jack Hall, Quaid brings a humanity and caring quality to the man that
was absent in the characters in "ID4." He has a dependability
and reliability factor that just makes you sit there and go, "Yea,
this is the man I want trying to save my butt. This is the man I want
around in a crisis." Adding to the package is Jake Gyllenhaal as
Sam. Even without the blockbuster effects, the pairing of Quaid and
Gyllenhaal is worth the price of admission. Their chemistry is what this
film its heart. And I'm pleased to see Sela Ward back on screen. As Lucy
Hall, Sela brings her own patented brand of dramatic excellence to not
only the character but the film.
Although weak on dialogue, it's something
to be overlooked and doesn't really impact the film as a whole. Although
you will find the requisite chest-thumping, heart-pounding inspirational
speeches - and some incredible one-liners appropriately timed to
destructive sequences - this is not a film that rises and falls on
dialogue nor is it one where it is expected or anticipated. Despite this
one oversight or shortcoming, however, the film's messages about the
environment, family and politics are never lost, thanks in large part to
the visual effects and the strength of Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal.
"The Day After Tomorrow" is all
about the high energy, rapid fire spectacular. Spectacular effects.
Spectacular disasters. Spectacular ear-splitting bombastic sound to
rival military shock and awe. In short, simply spectacular.
Jack Hall: Dennis Quaid Sam Hall: Jake
Gyllenhaal Lucy Hall: Sela Ward
Directed by Roland Emmerich. Written by
Roland Emmerich and Jeffrey Nachmanoff. A 20th Century Fox release.
Rated PG-13. (124 min)
|
