Much Better than You've Heard

Rating: Null/10 (13 June 2004)

By this time, you know the plot, so this is simply a quick, subjective reaction. I had low expectations for this film, and that was perhaps why I was pleasantly surprised.
Yeah, it hits all the correct PC notes, but, like Independence Day, it manages to do a semi-credible job of showing us what it would be like, at least in parts of the US, IF the premise of the film came to pass.
There are a lot of dramatic conveniences, but the effective and sometimes stunning visuals are compelling. Too, the story of the father reaching out to his estranged son carries a certain iconic emotional weight that pushes us past some of the illogical choices.
Overall, this is the first Big Summer Film I've seen this season that didn't disappoint. Van Helsing was crippled by anachronistic cleverness, Harry Potter, beautiful to look at but light on plot detail...The Day After Tomorrow, for all it's Big Budget, had modest aspirations and met all of them.
Very enjoyable.