They had 20 years to develop a sequel for “Independence Day: Resurgence” (2016) — 20 years after the original “Independence Day” exploded into theaters, defining the 1990’s summer blockbuster.  You figure that’d be enough time to come up with a really cool script.

Maybe there was one — maybe they had a really great screenplay that was thrown out for some reason at the very last minute. (Political correctness?  Copyright issues?  Internal studio politics?)  Then this by-the-numbers, live-action “G.I. Joe” cartoon was hastily thrust in front of the cameras.  What we’ve got here is really just a lot of common tropes strung together by a thin story, performed by cliche stock characters.  The charm, surprises, humor and impact of the (admittedly silly) original film are entirely absent here.

Don’t get me wrong.  “Independence Day: Resurgence” isn’t quite as bad as some other reviewers might make it seem.  There’s some fun to be had, especially if the kid in you still gets a kick out of gooey aliens.  (The ending sequence was enjoyable.)

It’s just disappointing because it’s quite average.  I’d give it a 6 out of 10, and I’d caution you to wait until you pay a dollar for it at Redbox.

Postscript: given what the movie reveals as their goal, why don’t the aliens just nuke us from orbit?  Ellen Ripley is smarter than an entire alien race.