The original Independence Day is one of my favorite movies, a kind of cinematic comfort food.  Independence Day told a complete story – Aliens try to invade the earth. Earth wins.  A sequel seemed silly.  Therefore, I went to see Resurgence feeling serious doubts that I would enjoy it.  I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Resurgence is a fun movie. Naturally, I still prefer the original but this is well done. They brought back as much of the original cast as they could.  Unfortunately, Wil Smith is absent.  There is no one with a personality equal to his and that leaves a hole in the movie.

The plot is that after twenty years, the aliens return to try again.  Before they arrive, there’s a mysterious other alien and this provides a new plotline.  Who is this force?  What does it want?  As the movie progresses, this becomes increasingly important. 

Meantime, the older cast is given work to do plus there’s a new group of young pilots.  Romance is provided by a dashing pilot played by Liam Hemsworth who is obviously intended to be the new, young hero.  The problem is that he is too bland.  His love interest is another heroic pilot but she too is portrayed as admirable but bland. 

There’s more, a lot more and, of course, cities get destroyed. Meantime, the plot comes together.  We learn more about the aliens and their motivation and we learn about the mysterious stranger and all of a sudden, a wholly new movie is set up by Resurgence.  The point of this movie is to set up a third movie.  Independence Day has become a series.  The next movie will clearly not take place on earth.  That means it just might be very good.

Meantime, Resurgence is good enough but not great.  It’s a good summertime popcorn movie and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Reviewed by Marian Powell