Movies with earth-shattering volcanoes, monstrous tsunamis and gigantic fissures with the power to wipe out entire cities with one small crack are suspenseful and exciting — for the first 15 minutes, anyway.

“2012” director Roland Emmerich’s latest endeavor takes a well-known Mayan myth and adds 2 hours and 38 minutes of predictable struggles, romance and special effects to make for a tiresome epic that seems to last longer than the world’s actual end ever will.

The plot is as predictable as it sounds. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a scientist who uncovers startling information about the warming and displacement of the earth’s crust and warns the U.S. government of the fast-approaching apocalypse. As Adrian works with the government, he discovers the end is much closer than originally expected. Nations worldwide begin to prepare their most important officials for an escape to protective domes.

Meanwhile, Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a writer and divorced father of two, discovers that the rumors about the world’s end are true and begins a quest for survival with the rest of his family. Expected attempts at heartfelt speeches and difficult decisions regarding the rest of humanity are made, and the usual hints of romantic relationships ensue.

The film also shows typical families and citizens, but their struggles are only briefly seen, and their losses barely have importance. Instead, “2012” focuses on the lives of important government officials and national leaders, who are the few and fortunate ones to have a chance to survive. The movie also mirrors current global issues — depicting the U.S. as the driving force in the political agendas involving the safety of humankind.

While the world crashes around them, the actors deliver performances that are not memorable. Cusack, who normally thrives in comedic leading roles, attempts to add humor to his unoriginal dialogue, but has no such luck. Amanda Peet, as Jackson’s ex-wife, also delivers dialogue that has little emotional impact.

While most performances leave the audience indifferent, Danny Glover as President Thomas Wilson is likeable and humble in his role. However, glimpses of him are short-lived.

Providing much-needed suspense, special effects show the horrors of immense mass destruction, as entire cities are reduced to dust with one earthquake or gushing rush of water. While the effects are terrifying, the action scenes are overdone and become dull after a few sequences.

When characters are not frantically escaping from their homes or dangling from the edge of a treacherous cliff, they desperately try to insert humor in the most unlikely situations. While the first crack about the world’s ultimate demise merits a few chuckles, “the end is near” joke gets old quickly.

“2012” is not as thrilling as some of Emmerich’s other works like “The Patriot” and “Independence Day.” If the idea of an almost three-hour long saga with the usual CGI effects doesn’t sound appealing, but the tale of the end of the world is still intriguing, just watch the trailer. The effect is exactly the same.

“2012” was written by Harald Kloser and director Roland Emmerich.