Plot-lite fun

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2004)

TDAT is a popcorn movie. Visually impressive, no brain power required (In fact thinking about some of the glaring loopholes will definitely spoil it for you). The usual Hollywood blueprint is followed pretty faithfully - only concern yourself with the survival of Americans; the greatest cataclysm of all recorded history will turn out OK if we are nice to each other; the hero's best mate isn't going to be there when the credits roll (but he sacrificed himself for his chums)etc.
There is some fun to be had and I'm charitably going to assume all the jokes were intentional (The city of Glasgow is represented by half a dozen outbuildings in a field, Jake Gyllenhaal's character - having been established as an intellectual giant - demonstrates his brilliant mind by hitting a wolf on it's head with a torch) and certainly the wonderful irony of Mexico closing it's borders to keep American illegal immigrants out was a highlight.
Go see it on a big screen (it will suffer on DVD because without the spectacle you'll have to focus on the plot). You'll have forgotten it by the time you've driven home but hey - we can't all be Shakespeare, right?
By the way - Is it just me or is Dennis Quaid turning into Harrison Ford as he gets older?