Independence Day (1996)

Thanks, Coolidge After Midnite, for giving us what we all wanted for the July 4th holiday weekend. All I can really say is, "My name is Alex, and Independence Day makes me Proud To Be American," because this movie rocks. The film brings together several stories and characters to detail the events of a major alien invasion of Earth. President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) wakes up with the news that a massive ship has been detected near the moon and is sending out smaller, city-sized vessels to hover over urban centers of the world. Soon enough supergenius David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) picks up a code in their signal for a countdown, and tries to contact his ex-wife Constance (Margaret Colin), an adviser to the president.

Meanwhile, Marine pilot Steven Hiller (Will Smith) is on the front lines of a battle with the ship over Los Angeles, as his girlfriend Jasmine (Vivica Fox) tries to meet up with him at the base amidst massive destruction and chaos. Also a group of kids accompany their drunken dad (Randy Quaid) with a group of mobile homes on the run across the desert. Everybody has to come together to fight these damned aliens!


Here's a movie I could watch several times in a row and still find things to enjoy. It's filled to the brim with likable characters, funny dialogue, interesting plot lines, and of course up to ONE THOUSAND explosions. The effects hold up really well, especially with the ship design and explosive mayhem (the aliens themselves are a little costumey). Fun fact: After seeing a behind-the-scenes preview on tv about this movie when I was a kid, I learned for the first time about using models in movies when they showed a 3-foot version of the White House blowing up. Thanks, Independence Day, for teaching me about basic movie technology.

The unexpected dream team of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum put in the most memorable turns, riddled with character quirks and punchy one-liners, plus actual punching. Oddly enough it sort of takes a while for Smith to actually show up (the joke is that he slept through the initial appearance of the alien ship), and he doesn't have as much screen time as I remembered, which proves he leaves quite an impression as the overconfident, wise-cracking Captain Hiller. Goldblum is doing his best "stuttery mad genius" take, while adding a dose of environmentalism. I have to admit, I sort of have a thing for Bill Pullman (what? weird I know) and I've always loved his idealistic, compassionate President Whitmore. Plus, that speech! When he gave that speech the audience started clapping like crazy and chanting "USA! USA!" and it wasn't ironic- we honestly felt patriotic. Competent Lady Alert: Vivica A Fox is pretty cool here, despite her silly hairstyle.

Its main narrative weakness is the subplot focusing on Randy Quaid and his kids, because it has little bearing on the rest of the main story. However, Quaid is so darned likable and funny in the role it's really not that much of a drawback. Otherwise it's a well-plotted, fast-paced thriller with enough action, tension, humor, and heart to truly make use of its long running time. It's basically the perfect big summer blockbuster, and suits its nominal holiday exquisitely. It's held up well for 14 years, and I can only imagine it'll do the same years from now.

4.5/5