By: debbie lynn elias
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.
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)
