Independence Day: Resurgence – Film Review by Emily Elphinstone

Director: Roland Emmerich
Writers: Nicolas Wright (screenplay), James A. Woods (screenplay)
Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman

Nothing says summer like the release of an apocalyptic blockbuster; and this year marks the return of ‘Independence Day’, in the long awaited follow up to the 1996 classic. In the aftermath of the original alien invasion, the world has been at peace; instead developing technology to defend itself, by utilising what the aliens left behind.

As the world commemorates the 20th anniversary of the attacks, trouble is foretold by some of the returning stars including Bill Pullman as (former) President Whitmore, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; and Brent Spiner as Dr Brakish Okun, who finally wakes from a coma after 20 years. Though Whitmore’s successor President Lanford (Sela Ward) attempts to coordinate the defence, she is quickly pushed aside in favour of the old guard; including Whitmore, Okun, and Jeff Goldblum as Professor Levinson, who once again provides comic relief with his deadpan delivery of the world’s greatest understatements. It quickly becomes clear that the new threat is even more serious than the last, with an alien mothership spanning 3000 miles looming over the Atlantic; and director Roland Emmerich goes all out on special effects, as whole cities are sucked from the earth.

In the absence of Will Smith’s Captain Hiller (who has died in vague circumstances); the new generation includes Jessie T. Usher as Hiller’s son, Liam Hemsworth as maverick Jake Morrison, and Maika Monroe as Whitmore’s long-suffering daughter; all of whom are positioned to star in the forthcoming franchise unsubtly lined up at the end of the film.

With a running time of only 2 hours the film struggles with build, as it becomes tangled in opening exposition, then gets carried away by action, leaving behind any sense of character development. This is most noticeable for the female characters, with Charlotte Gainsbourg in particular doing little more than following the crowd. While most of the younger members of the cast have little depth to work with, the returning characters are so effortlessly likeable they can’t help but steal the show (apart from a ludicrous moment in which Pullman takes time to shave before saving the world.) After years of disaster films, ‘Resurgence’ may lack the sense of originality so important in the first film, but there are some impressive visuals, humorous moments, and enough action to keep the audience more than entertained. But isn’t two films enough? Only time will tell.