Low-profile Americans save the world...yippy-ka-yee!

Rating: 4/10 (23 May 2004)

A massive, gigantically overhyped production that actually is one big B-movie! Independence Day only retells and steals multiple plot aspects from a thousand modest science fiction movies from back the 50's and add an unhealthy dose of patriotism. A couple of days before the celebration of the 4th of July, giant metal spaceships overshadow the largest cities of the world. The first part of Independence Day is filled with impressive explosions, apocalyptic demolitions and grotesque action. Apparently, the alien visitors are a bit hostile and cheerfully blow up the White House and they make president Pullman a widower. In the second part of the film, Independence Day entirely sinks into idiocy with Roswell '47 connections and Area 51 confessions. It also is in this part that the heroes start to rise. How about a stripper who single-handedly saves the First Lady? Or a redneck farmer who saves the world, kamikaze-style? A wannabe-NASA pilot who gets to fly a UFO or a divorced Jewish mastermind who cracks the alien code? It's all extremely silly and light-headed, but the moral is still there: Don't mess with Americans! Still, with the right, low-brained attitude you can enjoy this film. The jokes and oneliners are so bad and wrongly placed they become hilarious at times. The aliens, on the other hand, look cool. Nice cast as well, with good sounding names like Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Randy Quaid. On paper, Randy Quaid's name might look like the worst casting job ever but, regarding the characteristics of his role, it fits him perfectly.