2012Claudia Puig"We're all gonna die!" In 2012, the mother of all disaster movies, this be-all, end-all of clich?©s best when shrieked at the top of one's lungs must be uttered to make the experience complete. And, on that, we're not disappointed. Nor is the epic nature of the cataclysm left wanting as the mayhem is dialed up to massive proportions in this end-of-days extravaganza. The movie is an undeniable visual spectacle, but just as unequivocally a cheesy, ridiculous story. Computer-generated scenes of the world falling apart are both impressive and ludicrous. We see such iconic images as the Washington Monument toppling, Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue taking a dive, and St. Peter's Basilica crumbling. The Himalayas take a hit from a jet, and Los Angeles' freeways collapse faster than you can say gridlock. The global obliteration is associated with the end and restarting of the Maya calendar and widespread solar flares. While a few characters throw around jargon, the science is murky. But science is hardly the point. At the heart of the story is Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a failed novelist, father of two and ex-husband of Kate (Amanda Peet). He must band together with them and his wife's new beau (Tom McCarthy) for a harrowing plane ride from Los Angeles to Yellowstone, where he consults Charlie (Woody Harrelson), a conspiracy crackpot. Charlie has a map of where the government has hidden "spaceships" for such an eventuality. Meanwhile, scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) warns U.S. President Wilson (Danny Glover) that it's the end of the world. At best, 2012 is preposterous fun, with boggling special effects. Unintentional humor is a highlight, often spoken by characters who are not just paper-thin, they're emaciated. Director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow) is said to have spent $260 million on this array of catastrophic images. But the story is beside the point, and the protracted ending is anti-climactic. Only Cusack and Ejiofor convey intelligence and humanity. But if you're looking for earthquakes that outpace the Richter scale, tsunamis that swallow land masses and smoke that obliterates national parks, this is that movie. It's a global demolition derby. And, at more than 21/2 hours, the annihilation nearly unfolds in real time. ?© Copyright 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. |
