It took 20 years, but “Independence Day: Resurgence,” the sequel to “Independence Day,” made it into cinemas over the summer, but there was little reason to celebrate. After much hemming and hawing, Will Smith ultimately decided not to make the follow-up to his blockbuster hit, and turned to “Suicide Squad” instead. And while much of the original cast wound up coming back, there were some oddball replacements, like swapping in Maika Monroe for the terrific Mae Whitman. But perhaps that actress dodged a bullet, as ‘Resurgence’ did a fraction of what “Independence Day” did both at home and abroad, in addition to being kicked around by critics.
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Looking at what went wrong, Screen Junkies point the blame mostly at the script, which was uninspired and strange, and the misfortune of having Jessie T. Usher trying and failing to muster the same charisma as Will Smith. And then there are plot threads setting up sequels and prequels that seem more compelling than the movie you’re actually watching. In short, it’s a sequel that’s “twice the size and half the fun,” which is a pretty good way to put it.
