Why Do They Hate America?

Rating: 5/10 (29 August 2013)

Americans are mere days away from another festive Fourth of July celebration when a huge alien spaceship is detected near Earth's moon. From a secretive location in New Mexico (hint, hint!), the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute" (S.E.T.I.) informs the US Pentagon. No surprise if you're watching; of course, you already know we're on the verge of a massive alien attack. And, if they're attacking, we can safely assume they are unfriendly. The mystery about why they're here is explained, briefly, but it doesn't really matter why they're here - what matters is if and how we are to get rid of them...
The task falls on the eight shoulders of four men, all Americans. They will have to save the world from whatever the aliens have up their sleeves, or whatever they're wearing on this visit...
Our heroes are: youthful President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), computer technician David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), drunken crop-duster Russell Casse (Randy Quaid) and cocky pilot Steven Hiller (Will Smith). All of these people, and the majority of those supporting them, are caricatures. A few could take their act directly into a parody of this film, without changing a thing. And, there is nothing imaginative or clever about the story, which adds up to less than the obvious sources it borrows from. We are left with a "feel good" message of diversity in the United States, and some striking special effect images.
***** Independence Day (6/25/96) Roland Emmerich ~ Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid