Director: Brad Peyton
Writers: Ryan Engle (screenplay by), Carlton Cuse (screenplay by)
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Joe Manganiello
Plot: When three different animals become infected with a dangerous pathogen, a primatologist and a geneticist team up to stop them from destroying Chicago.
Running Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics 52% Audience 75%
Why I Watched It: The cast and I got it on sale on itunes for 2.99.
Random Thoughts: This was one of the rare cases where a movie was based on a video game and I didn’t know or more likely didn’t remember the game. I have seen it now boy I miss the early video games.
I would like to say something about Dwayne Johnson, Baywatch bombed, Skyscraper was a disappointment and Rampage did well but look at that critics score, it’s very hard to be the highest paid actor in Hollywood, heavy is the crown and all that, he’s still for my movie a bankable star and who of the most charismatic actors working today and likable as all get out.
What I Liked: First off, this is a fun and enjoyable popcorn movie, I liked the crap out of it, don’t worry I’ll say more but it does sum it up nicely.
I don’t usually like giant monster movies, I like some but the King Kongs and Godzillias usually leave me cold but here they embrace the fun of it and to their credit it’s silly cause of course it is but they play it straight and they don’t play down to the material. The tone and pacing works well and even though the film does run a bit long it’s a quick watch.
Johnson is solid here, he’s kind of quiet and even though he’s playing to his type and his strengths it’s a bit different, slightly. Naomie Harris is very good here, kind of a nothing role and she holds her own. To me the standout is Jeffery Dean Morgan who is a downright hoot in this movie, even is chewing scenery and having a ton of fun and it’s infectious, every time he says something I smiled. I liked the fact that they didn’t make him a cliched government bad guy, you’re not really sure what side he’s on and that’s part of the fun. It’s nice to see a secondary character get some time and also get to be more than a stock character. Also different seeing Malin Ackerman as the villain, and to have a brother and sister villain is different or at least hasn’t been done in a while.
The action is done well, the CGI for the most part is good and the monsters were believable enough to keep you into the movie. For the most par this is a well made action movie.
What I Didn’t Like: Honestly there isn’t much cause this movie really knows what it is, it’s not over reaching and it’s not trying to be the biggest Box Office hit of all-time, it’s a movie based on an old video game and it kept the fun and silliness that it had and put it on the big screen. With that there’s a couple of nitpicks, they waste Joe Manganiello, i wish they gave him not only more to do but a character to play, he’s a type here, everything I said about Morgan’s character does not apply to Manganiello not his fault he’s a bigger name than this role needed. Also the villain’s could have been a tad better, I get what they were going for but really they weren’t much of a threat.
Final Thoughts: A hoot of a film, there I said I enjoyed it for what it was, I hada good time watching it.
Rating: 8/10
Movie Burner Entertainment 