MOVIE REVIEW: INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (2016)

Released and set 20 years after the summer blockbuster Independence Day, this is a sequel that, at one time, was highly anticipated. But 20 years is a long time to wait. While the delay benefits the film in terms of the special effects needed for its scope, the filmmakers seem to have forgotten what made the original film so likeable.

Two decades after defeating the invading aliens, Earth has banded together in relative peace, using reverse-engineered alien technology to establish planetary defense systems in case the aliens ever return. Sure enough, the aliens do return, with larger ships and heavier firepower. With Earth’s defenses rendered ineffective, a massive alien mothership lands across the Atlantic Ocean and begins drilling toward Earth’s core. Thanks to a telepathic connection with the aliens established 20 years ago, a few humans, including former president Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman), insight is obtained as to the alien’s plans. It’s up to a few familiar faces and a new generation of intrepid military service members to save the planet once more.

Will Smith’s absence from this film is a detriment to its success. Depending on who you ask, the reason his character was written out of the script was either because he wanted too much money or he had scheduling conflicts due to other films. Either way, Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum returning is nice but not enough. Smith’s presence and charisma was part of the glue of the first film. Without him, the macho military side of the story is filled out by a bunch of nearly nobodies. They bring back the characters of Smith’s stepson and Whitmore’s daughter from the first film (though not played by the same actors), and there’s a romance storyline between Whitmore and another soldier, but it doesn’t provide the same tension as the first film.

The story does its best to try to provide more than just another round of pew-pew with the big bad aliens, but the film in general is painted into a corner, mostly by the success of the original film. With the humans of Earth armed with better technology and weaponry, the alien threat needs to come armed with bigger and badder artillery than before so as to not produce a stalemate. Unfortunately, this time it’s not as easy as sneaking on board the mothership and using an Apple computer to upload a computer virus. The interactions between returning characters gives audience a little spark, but it’s still lacking without Smith in the mix. The storylines with the new characters feel generic and are not memorable in the long run.

Despite the hopes of another blockbuster hit, Independence Day: Resurgence is just an average action movie. With Smith unable to take part, the filmmakers had to rewrite much of the script. I would argue that they had to change too much, and that this film probably should have been repackaged as a standalone sci-fi flick. But you don’t get a $165 million budget if it’s not connected to the original. The first film, after all, was only a pretty good summer popcorn flick, so the odds were stacked against this film from the get-go. It’s familiar enough to not dislike, but it’s also too much more of the same, making it feel like an unnecessary follow-up. It’s not a bad film, but it’s not the sequel anyone was hoping for.

FINAL RATING: 2.5 out of 5