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Director Roland Emmerich has become famous for big-budget disaster movies like "Independence Day."
Unfortunately, his films are also known to be over the top and often illogical, especially "The Day After Tomorrow," which stood as the dumbest disaster movie I had ever seen.
That is, until I caught Emmerich’s latest film, "2012," which is a blockbuster spectacle that might go down as the most uninteresting popcorn movie to date.
John Cusack stars as Jackson Curtis, a divorced novelist who takes his children out for a weekend of camping at Yellowstone National Park.
But the trip isn’t much fun for Jackson. His ex-wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), is dating a plastic surgeon named Gordon (Thomas McCarthy) and his kids have very little respect for him.
However, things take a sudden turn when they arrive in Yellowstone and overhear a radio broadcast from a conspiracy theorist named Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson).
Frost explains to Jackson how the world is set to end in 2012, due to the end of the Mayan calendar, the alignment of the planets and the Earth’s crust becoming movable again – complete with a poorly animated cartoon Frost to simplify the concept.
To make a long story short, Frost is right, and soon violent earthquakes start to destroy the world, with Jackson and his family fleeing from the never-ending destruction that goes along with the end of the world.
After they all miraculously survive the catastrophic events, Jackson and the rest of the survivors discover how the world governments have chosen to protect humanity – and learn that not everyone will be saved.
With a bloated runtime that goes well over the two-hour mark, "2012" ends up overstaying its welcome quite quickly, and it left me feeling overwhelmed well before the first hour was over.
Even worse, the script is quite illogical, which is to be expected from films of this nature, but I found it near impossible to suspend my disbelief while watching "2012."
For example, Emmerich expects audiences to accept that a man who has only taken two flying lessons can maneuver a plane through toppling skyscrapers and other destruction.
While there’s plenty of destruction and mayhem in the movie, and all of the special effects are quite impressive, there’s no real logic behind the film, no likable characters and no real substance.
Even more annoying is the use of product placement in "2012," which is incredibly obvious in the first half of the film that there are scenes where the screen is filled with more product logos than actors.
The only real highlight of the movie was Harrelson’s role, which is vital to the movie, but unfortunately very brief – especially considering the film’s long runtime.
Overall, movie-goers would be better off skipping "2012," as it’s a wholly unentertaining mess of a film – and if the world really does end in three years, at least no one else will ever have to sit through this garbage again.
Grade: D
7 comments
The film has to run as long as it did to encompas the two streams...the opening prelude alone is economical.'Even worse, the script is quite illogical, which is to be expected from films of this nature, but I found it near impossible to suspend my disbelief while watching "2012."this comment is illogical, as you expect this sort of film to be 'illogical'...its like complainnig a comedy is not tragic!
product placeement is Hollywood and all american capitalism..in this movie those products get gutted...'For example, Emmerich expects audiences to accept that a man who has only taken two flying lessons can maneuver a plane through toppling skyscrapers and other destruction.'a hidden subtext in the movie i destiny. Jackson, the lead here, is destined to survive as are those with him...SO its no surprise given this, that even a learner pilot manages the impossible!'no likable characters 'Dr Adrian Helmsely. not likeable???? Anheuser is MEANT to be not likeable....as the ruthless pragmatist chief of staff..
At least he likes Woodys comic gem of a conspiracy theorist...!