Makes "The Day After Tomorrow" look like an epic

Rating: 3/10 (4 July 2005)

This movie was a letdown of the same epic proportion that "The Day After Tomorrow" was last year. Expecting to see an alien sci-fi thriller on the order of "Independence Day", this film was simply a vehicle to provide Tom Cruise some mug time on screen.
The film quickly focuses on an unlikeable character, played by Cruise and, to a much lesser extent, his estranged daughter, played by Dakota Fanning. Cruise's character is on-screen almost constantly and, unfortunately, displays his limited acting range. Dakota, who is otherwise an incredible actress - especially for an 11 year old (see "Sam I Am", "Man of Fire", "Taken")is given a character whose primary function is to shriek and scream. The son, played by unknown Justin Chatwin, is quickly swept under the rug.
The primary characters in this film are, at best, one-dimensional. Their emotions and interactions are too phony and contrived to capture the audience. All of the supporting characters are reduced to "wallpaper" status.
Spielberg squeezed out a lemon here. This is nowhere near the quality of "E.T.", "Taken", "AI" (The movie, not the steak sauce). Cruise was far better in his earlier films such as "Risky Business".
Save your money. Wait for this dog on cable. Rent the 1953 version for a good sci-fi thriller.