Simply a great fun movie

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2005)

OK, If you are wanting a film that examines the meaning of life or some such other philosophically clever question, then you might as well stop reading now, for Independence Day certainly ain't for you. What it is is 2 hours of bam-splat mindless action, and a lot of fun. It is a film like this that reminds people what the movies were invented for - entertainment, pure and simple.
The preposterous premise (well, a film like this had to have one) is aliens have come to annihilate life as we know it on earth. It then falls to a few plucky survivors, led by an heroic President of Earth (sorry, USA) to stave off the evil aliens' diabolical plans to use our planet for their own devious ends. That, basically, is it. A simple plot though is essential for a film where you just want to switch off, sit back and enjoy the show, and Independene Day delivers. Just make sure you realise at the outset that the film has its tongue firmly embedded in its' cheek. It is not a film to take seriously.
Will Smith plays Will Smith (as he always does), in the form of a Captain in the United States marine air force. He is aided and abetted by the anally retentive genius Dr Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), the aforementioned gung-ho president (Bill Pullman), and an ex-marine (Randy Quaid) who has been abducted by the invaders before, and whose warnings have gone unheeded for years. Together they must dust off the rubble and beat off the aliens with a lot of big bangs and explosions.
This was one of Smith's first films on the back of the success of the Fresh Prince TV series, and his wisecracking routine is therefore still relatively fresh and humorous here. OK the dialogue is horrendously corny, yet somehow endearing because of (or maybe in spite of) it. The jokes come thick and fast between the explosions, making Smith the perfect popcorn-movie actor. The lines are frequently laugh-out-loud bad, so bad they're good - "I have got to get me one of these," "Elvis has left the building" and "Now that's what I call a close encounter!" being just some standout ones.
The special effects are excellent (and deservedly won an Oscar), the standout moment being the full-frontal blow-out of the White House. Never let it be said that Emmerich wasn't daring! (In case anyone still isn't sure, he goes on to prove it again in The Day After Tomorrow.)
The American jingoism is often hideously over-powering at times, to the extent where you want to stick two fingers down your throat as the world flocks to America's banner. Thank God for the Americans! seems to be the film's message to the rest of the world. Just wait for the President's inspiring speech on the eve of the final attack and his subsequent personal entry into the battle. What a guy! The Hollywood ending is so sugary it should carry a health warning as it may rot your teeth. But for all that, the movie is tremendous film, and if you can refrain from letting the incredulousness of it affect your viewing pleasure, then this is the perfect matinée entertainment. Just sit back and enjoy.