so many strings left hanging

Rating: 6/10 (2 June 2004)

This summer blockbuster was full of extravagant effects as expected however the total absence of proper storytelling and lack of realism severely hurt the movie. So many characters were introduced, yet the audience is left wondering about the majority of them. Aside from Dennis Quaid and his son, the other characters and their bland personalities appeared pasted into the film so as to fulfill a multi-racial cast. As a matter of fact, I found more meaning behind the lovable homeless guy than to the other main characters! What was the point of the child with cancer, the president, and the wolves for crying out loud? Not to mention that man in the weather station located in England with a child...wait, he had a child? Seems like they threw in the fact that he was a father in the editing room. *spoiler* As for the lack of practicality, who decides to walk to New York from Philly in the worst storm ever for over 10000 years?? The answer is Dennis Quaid. Who thinks they can survive in the mother of all storms? Dennis Quaid + a -200 degree Celcius proof tent. What really bothered me was the fact that it was incredibly cold outside but Quaid and his companion had exposed skin but were somehow unaffected by the cold. Perhaps they have never been up north before. As for the story, what happens to all the characters that we meet? The three guys have some scotch we just assume they die? How about that Japanese guy who graced the screen for 5 minutes before being pegged by ice cubes? How about the Asian woman that had a fling with Jason? How about the parents of the other kids? how about the suave boarding school student's little brother? i don't even remembered if they saved him! those selfish selfish punks. I guess they rather be sharing body heat.
That being said, I did enjoy some of the numerous jokes inserted into the movie. *spoiler* my personal favourite was when Quaid stole a page right out of John Cena's book from the WWE as he masterfully delivered a standing fireman's through a chimney chute. Now that's HARDCORE. 6/10