John Cusack Saves the World in 2012

I'm happy to report that the new apocalyptic film 2012 by producer director Roland Emmerich,
who also directed Independence Day, Godzilla, and The Day After Tomorrow, is a hoot and a half. I've never laughed so much in an end of the world epic as this one, and that's a good thing, because there have been a lot of such films and how many times can you enjoy seeing iconic landmarks topple over, crushing the foolish throngs who have gathered in the shadows.

The earth is in chaos due to shifting of the magnetic polar zones, and due to the crust movement that this causes, all because the sun is sending something towards earth---you know--hocus pocus and so California starts slipping into the Pacific, but not before divorced dad John Cusack can drive his kids on a "weekend trip" all the way from L.A. to Yellowstone National Park, meet wacko radio DJ Woody "the end is coming" Harrelson, take his kids on a hike through restricted, fenced off danger zones, get picked up by the military and meets scientist Chiwetel Ejiofor, and then drive all the way back to Los Angeles in time to pick up his ex and her new husband and then drive through a city that's degenerating faster than snow on an 98 degree day to the airport where he has conveniently booked and paid for (he's between jobs as a writer by working as a limo driver) a private jet-----whew----yeah, totally unbelievable. But I have to admit, earthquake destruction has never looked so scary and amazing before. The rest of the scenario--everyone on earth will probably die, except of course, John Cusack and his family, so one wonders just how will he get out of another impossible catastrophe, and then another, and then another. This film features his limo, RV, private plane and a giant Russian cargo jet drive over ramp-like crevasses like some demolition derby, and amazingly missing falling buildings, towers, flying cars, and volcanic boulders to reach safety. Shots of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and the Vatican being destroyed are grim reminders that we are helpless against the ravages of nature, and just to be extra cynical, the St. Peters Basilica manages to not collapse, but flip over on it's side and role over the praying masses in Italy. In a protracted ending, Cusack saves the future of mankind with an impossible act of --what---bravery, stupidity, heroism, self-sacrifice...?
The visual effects are sensational, the actors are quite effective, especially Oliver Platt as the heartless brains behind the "saving of civilization"---the ultra-rich survive, the poor all die. There are many amusing, obvious lines, like "I think we are all going to die"--oh really, you think. I laughed a lot. It is a great, fast paced "popcorn" movie because if you think about it too long, you either get depressed or your brain short circuits. Emmerich knows how to shoot action sequences (he's now destroyed Washington DC and the White House in 2 films now), and the film is long on tension. Occasionally you get a calm, tender, human scene, but don't worry, the ironic or sarcastic destruction will begin again shortly. The film may be a joke, but at 158 minutes, you get your money's worth.