2012, The End of the World as We Know It

Exactly as expected, 2012 is the most massive, CGI-driven movie in history; what I didn't expect was that I would enjoy it. Don't blow an artery...it's really entertaining and has a nice, simple story.

The sun is flaring, releasing massive amounts of neutrinos, and the earth's core is overheating, causing the earth's crust to shift. Human's have made the choice to survive at whatever cost.

John Cusack stars as Jackson Curtis, a writer, and the story's protagonist. Curtis learns the governments of the world are building arks to try to transplant some humans and animals (Two of every kind, wonder where they got that from?) to safety in China. He gets this intel from Charlie Frost, a crazy, radio announcer at Yellowstone National Park played by Woody Harrelson. Taking Frost for a wacko, conspiracy nut, Curtis refuses to listen to him and instead and drives away with his children, to his later dismay.

Much of 2012 consists of Cusak's character escaping one spectacular disaster after another en route to safety in China. Jackson Curtis is apparently the luckiest man alive. His escapes throughout the film are classic Roland Emmerich feats. Completely unbelievable, yet amazingly fun.

Cusack's performance in 2012 is typically good, Amanda Peet is surprisingly impressive as Curtis's ex-wife  and Oliver Pratt is at his annoying best. The film's cinematography and sound are blisteringly crisp and mind blowing. The ensemble characters are engaging, if fleetingly on the screen. I went to see 2012 basically for the special effects, so i was pleasantly surprised by the quality of story, plot and acting. if you're looking for an action fix to get your adrenalin flowing, with a nice bit of characterization thrown in. I would recommend this flick.

Rating 3 stars out of 5