Independence Day: Resurgence

Years after the events of the original ‘Independence Day’, a new threat emerges from the stars. Having combined the aliens technology with that of earth, will it be enough to defeat the on-coming alien invasion?

Where Roland Emmerich’s original ‘Independence Day’ had charm and scale, ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ brings solely special effects and little else. In effectively what amounts to a re-run of the original’s plot, the sweeping almost operatic shadows of alien ships ominously cloaking the earth has been replaced for a smorgasbord of stale scenes, shot with better optics. Whilst ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ certainly looks the part, it thanklessly stands apart from its predecessor by delivering some of the most tired-sounding dialogue to ever hit the ear.

…earnest looks trade off against sulky brows and words wither on the tongue….

Floating in amongst its most soporific sentences, genuine talents can be found in the shape of Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Judd Hirsch, all battling amongst a tirade of tiresome dialogue, flat scenes and even flatter earthlings. Jessie T. Usher sadly embodies none of Will Smith’s “whoop-E.T.’s-ass” likeability and Liam Hemsworth wrestles with a back-story that is barely in the movie. Instead earnest looks trade off against sulky brows and words wither on the tongue as explosions try to assuage why you are even watching this sequel.

You see, part of the original ‘Independence Day’s’ charm was its knowingness and predisposition to steal. From Bill Pullman’s ‘Henry V’ speech to its other knowing nods, these were endearing thefts scattered around a multi-ethnic cast acknowledging, that in B-movies, disaster is indeed the great leveller. Sadly, in ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ the bar isn’t so much lowered as broken in its rapid descent from memory.