.jeri.

I knew 2012 was going to be "special" when I saw the trailers, but I had no clue how special it would be. Ranking on a similar level of insanity as this year's earlier movie, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, this story takes the premise that the world will end in 2012 and runs with it. Giant earthquakes and hailing fire fill the screen as John Cusack tries to make it with his family to the arks, which are three giant vessels built to preserve the humanity's elite (anyone who can afford a ticket).

I'm all for a movie that takes a premise and just runs with it. Knowing is another example from last year, and I think that (although it does have some cheesy moments) it accomplishes what it sets out to do in a slightly more convincing manner. I know that believability isn't exactly what's important when it comes to mega disaster movies, but 2012 has no pretense of even trying to follow the laws of logic, believability, or physics. As soon as the global upheaval begins, John Cusack is driving his family in a limo, which has the speed to outrun the massive cracks that form in the ground during the largest earthquake California has ever known. During this scene, he makes all the lucky turns and, seriously, even drives through the window of a skyscraper as it is collapsing and comes out on the other side. The family also narrowly misses being hit by tons of cars, falling freeways, and a lot more. It's the beginning to an unapologetic spectacle of what CGI can accomplish.

The movies is also filled with some really odd characters. Woody Harrelson shows up as an end-of-days conspiracy radio personality who just blows one's mind with how terrible he is. Then there's the Russian wrestler, his trophy girlfriend, and their sons, who provide all sorts of terrible stereotypes to the show. And of course, there's a little dog too.

2012 had me smacking my forehead and Ric was dying when he realized how long it was. It succeeds in being awesomely ridiculous, but it flies past campy and shows us what a huge disaster really is.