WHAT can you say about the near end of the world – when all that stands between the entire United States cracking in half and falling into itself is a geologist with fabulous hair? One thing you most likely will say after watching NBC’s “10.5 Apocalypse” is that it’s a laugh-out-loud disaster.
If the title sounds familiar, it’s because a couple of years ago, NBC aired an equally so-bad-it’s-funny movie, “10.5,” about an earthquake that threatened to take out the West Coast. Since these flicks are made by Gary Pearl, an ex-William Morris agent, perhaps taking out all of California was wishful thinking.
At any rate, since we’re all still here thanks to the geologist with fab hair (Kim Delaney) who saved the left coast then, President Hollister (Beau Bridges) has to call on her again.
But it’s worse this time because all the plates that hold this land – our land! – together are coming apart. It starts with a tsunami that takes out Hawaii (Doesn’t Hollywood have any shame in this age of real disasters? Of course not!) and moves on to earthquakes that kill millions.
Sure the death toll is sad, but the fault is moving across the west, and – oh no! – it’s blowing the faces off Mount Rushmore! Damn! There goes George! And what’s up with Mount St. Helens? Thar she blows!
Understandably, the prez is worried. He immediately gets Dr. Samantha Hill on the horn. She’s very busy, but is moved – moved! – when the president says he needs her to stop this thing.
He calls her and says (I swear), “Thank goodness you’re alright, Dr. Hill. You had me worried. It’s been one helluva ride!” What?
Along with her this time is Brad (Dean Cain), a firefighter who is in it to win it, and will do anything to stop the country from imploding.
There are plenty of giant special effects – some good, some so dopey you can practically see the computer in the background.
Pearl’s press kit says he received a lot of comments after the first movie from people saying how afraid they were to see these disasters, but how they were so happy that it happened in fantasy rather than reality.
What planet is this guy living on? Hasn’t he heard of the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Pakistan? Oh, wait, of course not – in Hollywood, the only disasters that matter are at the box office.
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“10.5 Apocalypse”
[½ star]
May 21 and 23 at 9 p.m. on NBC
