2012

Editorial

It's 2012 and mutant neutrinos from space are invading the Earth and superheating the core – just as the ancient Mayans predicted! That the real cosmic force orchestrating such shenanigans is Roland Emmerich means it's no surprise that when Gaia erupts, she spews out mind-bogglingly huge geysers of molten B-movie cheese. Verily, this is the global-family-size disaster-movie pizza with everything -- and audiences with a variety of palates are going to gobble it up.

Arriving at the right mix of camp and cataclysm is no mean feat, especially when you're playing with GDP-sized budgets spent on massive CGI spectacle. Emmerich and his pixel posse have conjured up some truly multiplex-rocking action.

John Cusack is again an author grieving family disruption who has written a book that describes the film. It's pretty much who he was in both 1408 and Martian Child, with 2012 even recycling the latter film's love interest Amanda Peet. 2012 surrounds Cusack with Oliver Platt, as the Politician Who Plots, Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Geologist Who Knows, Danny Glover as The Black President, Thandie Newton as The First Daughter.

Realising his audience is global, Emmerich includes something for everyone. There's the heart-warming humanitarianism of the Europeans pitted against the cold capitalist rationalism of the Americans. But in a moment of high mirth, 2012 also identifies the director of the Louvre as an enemy of humanity.

What it says, and what it is, is just a shamelessly geared piece of commercial filmmaking. Emmerich supposedly spent $260m to give you the biggest experience for your ticket dollar and, in this regard, he has succeeded tremendously, while, intentionally or otherwise, also delivering one of 2009's best comedies.

Michael Adams