Disaster pictures have never been my forté. Something crazy happens, a bunch of people die, somebody comes up with a brilliant solution and the world is saved.  This cookie-cutter recipe has worked time and time again, though it has gotten a little tired in recent years.  So, what does Roland Emmerich do?  He goes to recent news stories about global warming and comes up with a story that has no hero and basically no solution.  And guess what?  It WORKS!  He wrote the story, wrote the screenplay, produced it AND directed it.  I think I even saw him selling tickets in the theatre!

Dennis Quaid plays Jack Hall, a climatologist who is the first to see a dramatic shift in world temperatures.  He tries to alert the country by talking to congress and the vice president.  His warning falls on deaf ears as a global chill sets in and dramatic weather grips the world.  Tornados in Los Angeles and a tidal wave in New York City are just the beginning.  As communication systems start to shut down and everything is starting to freeze (and I mean FREEEEEZE!) Jack must try to go from Washington D.C. to New York to rescue the son that he has neglected due to his work.  Sam, played by Jake Gyllenhaal (October Sky...1999), is there with friends from school at a scholastic decathlon and gets stuck when all planes are grounded and even the trains can't run.  The kid does all he can to survive as his father is trying to get there before it's too late.  Will he get there in time?  Will the world freeze totally?  Will ANYBODY survive?

I reluctantly went to see this picture, remembering the disastrous disaster movies of recent years.  This one was different.  I like Dennis Quaid and he was good as the scientist, torn between saving the world and saving his kid.  The story was well written even though the PCBS did rear its ugly head a few times.  The directing was sharp and crisp but, as usual, the real star of these types of pictures was the special effects.  Man!  When the tidal wave hits New York, it hits and you can "feel" it!  One of the best effects I have seen!  The characters were good.  My favorite was Glenn Plummer, playing a bum who already had a head start on survival.  This picture was what it was meant to be -- it was pure entertainment and I think that's enough.

I think my favorite part was when America was being evacuated and Mexico REFUSED to let us in UNTIL we agreed to forgive their debt to this country.  You should have heard the reaction to THAT in the theatre!


RECOMMENDATION: A little preachy but none the less, good, solid entertainment that will keep most of your weight on the front edge of the seat.  Rated PG-13 for intense, storm-related violence.  Take the whole family!

TWO FROST BITTEN AND FROZEN THUMBS UP!!!

Movie Review © 2004 by Terry Anderson