Meteor

Meteor (2009)

Earth might be doomed as an asteroid is on a collision course with the planet. That is unless Seinfeld Alum Jason Alexander’s character can get the correct data to intercept the thing in space with a whole chunk of the U.S. nuclear arsenal! The problem is that he fired the only scientist that can figure out the formula to save us. Luckily that scientist is on his way from Mexico with the data (because he can’t just email it!) with his assistant in tow. Though I suppose I shouldn’t say that they are lucky because their car breaks down, he gets killed by a hit and run, she runs into homicidal criminals, belligerent border guards, and all kinds of armed locals. If that wasn’t enough fun we have another subplot with a crazed cop out to murder the family of his former partner.

I’ve always been a sucker for disaster movies, the cheesier the better. This is one of those cheesy made for T.V. disaster movies where the filmmakers cast a whole bunch of familiar actors and set them in all kinds of crazy plot lines with the impending disaster as a background. This time around it is a Meteor hit, but it could just of easily been sunspots, a tsunami, earthquakes, or a volcano. The key is that somehow all of the plot lines must connect in someway so that most if not all the characters are brought together to help each other before the credits roll. Toss is in some fun CGI footage of buildings getting smashed up and you have the formula for a fun summer movie, if you are into that sort of thing. For the most part I was digging on the movie and having a good time. The pacing is decent, though it does feel like they added on the storyline of the family trying to escape the hospital to stretch the story into a second night (this was originally a miniseries). Things are very predictable, especially with the villainous cop plotline. But then that character is played by Michael Rooker who gleefully chews up the scenery and does a great job.

The special effects are kind of goofy in that made for T.V. way. You have bad C.G.I. mixed in with obvious sets. But if you don’t think too hard and turn the critical parts of you brain off some fun can be had here. And again there is just a cheese value to how goofy things look that I had some fun with. Honesty if this was a big budget flick with great effects I don’t think that I would have enjoyed it as much.

Bottom line is that while this is not the greatest movie if you have ever sat down and watched those goofy disaster movies from the 70s and enjoyed them then you will dig this one. Though I would toss the caveat in that you might want to rent this unless you can get it cheap. I’m not sure this is the kind of movie that holds much rewatchability.

2 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer