Relationships, special effects, humor, action, and no gratuitous violence--a perfect 10!

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2008)

This is the kind of movie I never expected to even like, much less rate a 10!! However, a ten it is for me!! I must have originally stumbled on it on cable (never saw it in the theaters), and have been hooked on watching it many times.
Of major import is the fact there is absolutely no gratuitous violence at all. Of second major import is the humor; third are the special effects...all of which make it highly entertaining without worrying about having to leave the room because of some awful something "coming up" I just can't stand to see. (Even the dissection scene is quite fascinating to watch.)
The relationships between the characters are what keep me coming back and back again to watch. Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith are so terrific in that space ship--great chatter/dialog, delivered perfectly. Judd Hirsch and Goldblum in that car ride to Washington DC are just absolutely perfect. The continual positive forward motion of the story line embedded within a series of scenes focusing on emotional relationships engaged me deeply, in reflecting on my own life's relationships, resolved and unresolved.
I also had a good laugh watching the stereotypes of "the American hero" vis a vis the other assembled military groups around the world--so perfectly portrayed how we see ourselves as the "saviors" of humanity. One wonders if/when that would/will ever be the case...but for now, we are talking movies and not reality.
David Quaid is as always remarkable; absolutely believable in a character role that has been portrayed a million different ways. Vivica Fox is just fantastic--a great performance, and she is truly a role model and heroine for many young women. Adam Baldwin is excellent as that "unbelievably cute guy" in uniform, perfectly groomed, in completely control, doing and saying all the right things. The relationships between everyone are a pleasure to watch unfold. All of these roles may be considered cliché by many, but I enjoyed seeing them nonetheless.
Science Fiction gives us the luxury of going beyond our normal circumstance into new territory in order to work out emotional "stuff" within a completely new and interesting framework. This movie does that in a spectacularly entertaining way, and I thank the writers/producers/director for creating this very special "world" that I enjoy returning to on DVD again and again when I need a really "feel good" experience.