[7]

The Irwin Allen disaster epic is alive and well in this 1996 summer blockbuster in which evil aliens threaten to destroy Earth, leaving it up to a rag-tag team of politicians, soldiers, and scientists (plus a drunken crop-duster and a pole dancer!), to save humanity. The writing and directing team of Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin (Stargate, Godzilla) almost strike the perfect tone for this corny crowd-pleaser. Independence Day is charming when it wears its goofiness on its sleeves, but induces eye-ball rolling when it tries to milk a handful of overly-sentimental moments. It’s hard to have it both ways, guys.

The first third of the film is by far the strongest, as everyone worldwide waits with baited breath before the aliens unleash a monumental can of whoop-ass on us. The White House and the Statue of Liberty are totally toasted — imagery that all by itself strikes a visceral response. The second act drags a little until the characters come together at the infamous Area 51, where the film’s only direct alien/human encounters take place. The third act will make the greatest strain on your disbelief, but if you run with the movie’s leaps in logic and scientific mockery, the grand finale isn’t unsatisfying.

Like those old Allen tragedy flicks, ID4 features an all-star cast. Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum turn out to be the leading characters, playing a fighter pilot and techie, respectively. Judd Hirsch is memorable as Goldblum’s curmudgeonly father, while Randy Quaid steals scenes as the drunken crop-duster with a personal vendetta against the aliens. Bill Pullman plays the President while Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica) plays the First Lady. Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Brent Spiner makes the most of a smaller part, playing a whacky mad doctor at the Area 51 facility.

Perhaps the single-greatest contribution is made by composer David Arnold, whose patriotic bombast, brassy action, and sweeping romantic melodies make the whole affair go down a lot more easily than it might otherwise.

With Vivica Fox, Adam Baldwin, James Rebhorn, James Duvall, Robert Loggia, Margaret Colin, Harry Connick Jr, and Harvey Fierstein.

Academy Award: Best Visual Effects

Oscar Nomination: Best Sound