Hugh Kellenberger
Editor-In-Chief

What would happen if you combined Twister, Independence Day and The Patriot, then threw it in the environment of a post 9/11 world? The Day After Tomorrow.

What saves the movie, with its paint-by-numbers plot and numerous special effects, is the performance of two actors: Jake Gyllenhaal and Emmy Rossum.

Gyllenhaal, in his first big-budget film of any genre, plays Sam Hall. Sam is the kid in the back of the class who knows every answer but can’t be bothered by raising his hand. However, through his extreme like for Laura (Rossum), he ends up on an academic decathlon team headed for New York City.

Dennis Quaid plays essentially the same character from The Rookie; except for he’s a paleoclimatologist instead of a washed-up high school baseball coach turned circus stunt. Obviously, more education was required. Jack Hall, Sam’s dad, warns everyone of the impending weather freak-out, but no one listens.

Has there ever been a movie where an impending disaster of some sort was averted because everyone listened to the handsome genius? Of course, if that happened, we wouldn’t have a movie.

It’s hailing in Tokyo, snowing in New Delhi and tornadoes have torn a new one into Los Angeles. Still no one believes this is any kind of extreme event, but rather a series of strange coincidences. Well that is, except for Jack and the kindly old Scottish man Terry Rapson (Ian Holm, best known for the Lord of the Rings trilogy). Rapson is the real scientific hero of the film, for he feeds Jack most of the information that Jack is running to the White House with.

When the blizzard hits everyone realizes, by god, the handsome gentleman in the corner was right. So what does Jack do? Run around the White House screaming, “I told you so,” escape to the nearest South American country, or drive/walk to New York City? I would go for the former, but bless his heart Jack is going to the Big Apple.

He must go and retrieve his son, his son’s girlfriend and the obligatory nerdy black kid, all of which are stuck in the New York Public Library. They are with a whole bunch of hanger-ons, none of whom director Roland Emmerich even cares enough to give a name to.

One of the things that set this film apart from the stale, tired disaster flicks is the subtle winks to the audience. Vice President Becker is obviously a Dick Cheney clone. He looks like him, talks like him and seems to have the same set of priorities. The only difference? Kenneth Welsh shows the character is in fact, not a cyborg, and does have a heart.

The audience is told that President Blake, who is rarely seen and even less heard, had to excuse all Latin American debt in order to open the borders to Mexico. This scene plays for high comedy, as guys in business suits attempt to cross the Rio Grande, suitcase overhead. One can only assume they’ll be running Mexico City within 72 hours.

Gyllenhaal played a high-school senior five years ago in October Sky, but plays this character so well for most of the film I forgot he is fact 23 years old. The fact that Sam, or Jack never gives a ludicrously over-emotional speech to the masses is one of the real joys of the film. There is no Bill Pullman in Independence Day speech, with cheering crowds whooping at grade-A american cheese.

This is not to say the film is completely devoid of smaltz. Sela Ward, who plays the mother of Sam and ex-wife of Jack, has an entire storyline revolving around a sickly young boy that could make even those who own Fried Green Tomatoes on DVD, LaserDisc and video barf.

Rossum plays her character for what she is: the gentle, compassionate, intelligent, beautiful, under-stated heroine. Rossum (Mystic River) has the same quality that Kate Beckinsale does: the film the lights up when she’s on screen. There’s a certain magic quality to her smile that allows her to say anything she wants and have the audience hang on every word.

Is The Day After Tomorrow perfect? No, far from it. It focuses way too much on the plight of the United States and way too many people live.

However, it is a film that you can express a strong like for without shame five years from now.