While on a camping trip in Yellowstone, novelist-turned-chauffer Jackson (Cusack) stumbles across a secret military operation and a raving nutcase (Harrelson) who claims the end of the world is nigh. Sure enough, top government scientist Adrian (Ejiofor) is advising the President (Glover) and his Chief of Staff (Platt) about preparations for impending natural catastrophes. By the time Jackson gets home to Los Angeles, the pandemonium has begun, and he barely gets his kids, his ex (Peet) and her new husband (McCarthy) out. But where do they go now?

L.A.'s obliteration is one of the most spectacular effects sequences ever put on screen: it's a thrilling chase through the most insane apocalypse you've ever seen, with a handful of likeable characters trying desperately to cheat fate. And this is only the beginning of a film in which these people have to outrun a mega-volcano, escape from a collapsing desert, crash land on an ice cliff and survive a Titanic-sized crisis at sea. All because powerful solar flares have destabilised the earth's crust.

Strangely, the science sounds vaguely plausible, even if the way it plays out is pure fantasy. Emmerich pushes every scene to maximum-chaos, while keeping us hooked with strong characters and comical asides. Along the way, there are cheeky references to every other disaster movie, pop culture icons and real-world disasters. And Emmerich never takes things too seriously; even when he gets sentimental over a parent-child moment or a threatened puppy, there's a twinkle in his eye.

In fine disaster movie tradition, the cast is too good for such silliness. Cusack and Ejiofor get the meatiest roles, while Peet and Newton also offer solid female leads on the edge of the action. And Platt is funny as the requisite boneheaded politician. But of course the real stars are the effects gurus who have seriously outdone themselves with a gob-smackingly enjoyable day of reckoning. Where can the genre possibly go from here?

themes, language, violence

30.Oct.09