Great special effects make up for familiar plot lines

Rating: Null/10 (2 June 2004)

(Spoilers) Tremendous visuals provided in the first half and pretty non-offensive performances make The Day After Tomorrow a good early-summer big screen popcorn treat. It's barely worth mentioning who stars in this, but we have Dennis Quaid (the comeback kid of the past 5 years) and Jake Gyllenhaal (mopey as ever), with Sela Ward thrown in a little as Dr. Mom, but the real star of the film is the special effects. Incredible sights to be seen as we get helicopter views of Los Angeles being hit with 5-6 tornadoes at once, and New York City being washed away in a tidal wave. As the 2nd Ice Age takes over, the movie begins to freeze a little as well, as we get a 1 in a billion rescue mission with the Hall boys (Quaid/Gyllenhall) avoiding ice-breaks, killer CGI wolves, and meanest of all, a gust of wind that'll freeze you solid instantaneously. I also wish the movie would have dove into the long-term effects of the storm, instead of just focusing on the reaction shots of Vice President Cheney-look alike Becker (Kenneth Walsh) for borderline comedic effect. Still and all, though, good summer movie.