I don’t think many people would think twice if you referred to Roland Emmerich’s 1996 disaster epic Independence Day as a “classic.” The film was a box office smash, and left cultural shockwaves that resonated throughout the ’90s. It’s an ideal summer B-movie that blends impressive practical effects with a cast of likable characters, culminating in a gloriously cheesy monologue that left theatergoers cheering in their seats. Independence Day isn’t a great film, but it is a very effective one.
Twenty years later, and Emmerich has finally dipped his pen back into the well for Independence Day: Resurgence, a sequel that looks at the aftermath of the “War of 1996,” as well as the invasion’s second wave. With the very obvious exception of Will Smith, the majority of the original cast has reunited to pass the torch onto a new generation of Earth defenders. Digital effects widen the scope of destruction far beyond individual monuments. In a quest to make audiences feel the same thrills as the original, Resurgence may end up souring them on this franchise altogether.

With the events of the first film in the rear view, the world seems brighter in Emmerich’s 2016. World governments unite after a common threat exposes “petty differences.” Alien technology powers a new generation of human innovation. But most noticeably, military force has become a central point of global pride. All of these are grand concepts, and are rich with potential for commentary on Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. Unfortunately Resurgence seems far more interested in leveling those cities than telling stories about the people within. The alternate present put on screen is too quickly shoved aside, as the alien threat returns to Earth’s territory. The plot accelerates so quickly, we’re barely given an introduction to the new heroes who take the reins of this series. It is very possible this choice was an act of mercy by the film’s editor.
While the original Independence Day was ripe with interesting, and memorable characters, Resurgence seems content to fill the screen with generic, interchangeable 20-somethings of various gender and skin tone. Their interpersonal drama is poorly defined, and seems downright petty compared to the chaotic destruction unfolding before them.
Disaster spectacle has always been Roland Emmerich’s bread and butter, having previously flattened metropolises in The Day After Tomorrow and 2012. But with Resurgence, Emmerich’s sensibility seems oddly muted. In a world where superhero films regularly topple skyscrapers and every other teen drama takes place in a post-apocalyptic environment, there’s nothing left to make the action in Resurgence stand out. A small handful of sequences (including Jeff Goldblum’s character driving a school bus through the most preposterous chase of 2016) come off as legitimately creative, only to be swept back under a blanket of generic computer-generated explosions. The spectacle of blowing a city to bits was enough to pack theater seats in 1996, but Emmerich has failed to keep up with the times.
Even watched with knowledge of every plot hole, cliché and stereotype present in the original Independence Day, I dare you to finish the film without feeling something. Bill Pullman’s iconic speech, and Will Smith’s flawless delivery of countless one-liners offer perfect popcorn fodder. It’s the sort of movie that can lull one into bliss. As for Resurgence, most audience members will be numbed to the point of amnesia. Thinking back on the two hours spent with my 3D glasses and bag of peanut butter cups, I may as well have been staring at a blank wall.
Follow Chris Berg on Twitter @ChrisBerg25