Release Date: May 28, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense situations of peril
Written and Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, Emmy Rossum, Arjay Smith, Ian Holm

Plot:
This movie takes a big-budget, special-effects-filled look at what the world would look like if the greenhouse effect and global warming continued at such levels that they resulted in worldwide catastrophe and disaster, including multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, floods and the beginning of the next Ice Age. At the center of the story is a paleoclimatologist (a scientist who studies the ways weather patterns changed in the past), Professor Adrian Hall (Quaid), who tries to save the world from the effects of global warming while also trying to get to his son, Sam (Gyllenhaal), who was in New York City as part of a scholastic competition, when the city was overwhelmed by the chilling beginnings of the new Ice Age. In addition to all of the other challenges Dr. Hall faces, he's also going against the flow as humanity races south to warmer climes, and he's nearly the only one going north.

Review:
From the Director of Independence Day and Godzilla comes another big budget special effects extravaganza. Exclude the extravaganza because there are flaws in this film that pulls it back like tug of war. Although, not a disaster, The Day After Tomorrow fails in what it was clearly set out to do. Its not fun the entire way through and it becomes tedious in the unrealism that is being shown.

The Day After Tomorrow drives through theatres with such an interesting concept, but it is far from well done. The first ten minutes had already been revealed and previews were leading it towards a nice adventure. The film turns out to be more of the opposite and its not an expectations ordeal. The film just doesn't deliver the feel that the world is in trouble and that's its main problem.

The film has a solid cast in its hands. Dennis Quaid plays the lead actor as Jack Hall and his son is Sam who is played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Neither deliver a worthy performance and it might be partially their fault, but not entirely. With minimal dialogue, Quaid and Gyllenhaal are limited in their acting abilities. Both fine actors, but in The Day After Tomorrow, there is nothing that is great.

Its clear that The Day After Tomorrow is a film that seemed promising and could have been something, but its not ad bad as the gum in the bottom of your shoe. The film is not a complete waste because there is some entertainment value present in the film. With actors like it has, it shows that actors can't save a film with bad dumb writing and an uneven direction.

The first half of the film is the better half and features some interesting tragedies. Also, the fact that The Day After Tomorrow isn't non stop action the entire way through its running time is something that was a right move. Everyone can enjoy the visuals because they are good in the film. However, that is possible the best thing in the film which isn't saying much.

The flaws with the film are also its tendency to begin love and romance between Gyllenhaal's character and actress Emmy Rossum's character. It tones down the suspense that we should be getting as the global warming is approaching and with a plot as such, there is no room for such occurrences. Also, in the end of it nothing is achieved or lost with it and is actually ignored.

Some can go ahead and say that there is no need for harsh criticism, the film was mainly aiming to be a mindless action special effects summer popcorn flick. It might have wanted to do that, but with a plot like global warming, its a case that without a doubt should be taken seriously and done to a solid account. That's the section that Roland Emmerich fails in.

Along with his direction, he wrote the screenplay for The Day After Tomorrow. Its packed with cheesy dialogue and lame one word replies. Unnecessary and unrealistic situations are also in handful for the film. Perhaps, if the film would have done without this it could have been a memorable film just as well as a memorable event. There is no turning back and Roland shows us that.

The popcorn or the nachos with extra cheese is not enough to recommend The Day After Tomorrow. Roland's constant cuts of scenes from cheap dialogue to water flooding the land isn't fulfilling in result. He is actually ruining the mood for effectiveness in scares each time. The pace is one that does not get dull, but instead it gets audiences cringing at whats on screen and that's worse.

The Day After Tomorrow is a failed project and Director Roland Emmerich should find a new style of filmmaking because his pattern is certainly not for the better. The only thing Day After Tomorrow has going for it is its impressive special effects, but wheres the smart writing, the powerful dialogue and situations that scare us out of our seats. They are no where to be found. The events happening in Day After Tomorrow aren't going to happen anytime soon and the film itself won't be receiving a recommendation, at least not in this lifetime.