Even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson couldn’t save 'Rampage' from being an utter train wreck.
Rating: 2/5
In 'Rampage' Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye, who keeps people at a distance but shares an unshakeable bond with George, the intelligent, rare albino silverback gorilla.
After a genetic experiment goes wrong – that causes accelerated growth and enhanced abilities – and infects George and two other animals, chaos and wreckage then ensue in Chicago.
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From the initial trailers, I had serious reservations about Rampage and, while it looks like it could be a fun monster film, it falls horribly flat on all fronts.
The only thing that makes this film even mildly watchable is Johnson’s charm and charisma on screen.
All of the other haracters are as one-dimensional as they come. The villains responsible for the genetic mutation, Claire Wyden (Malin Akerman) and Brett Wyden (Jake Lacy), have no real motivation for their actions and their acting makes Cara Delevingne look like an Oscar award-winning actress.
The biggest offender, however, is Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who has an atrocious Southern accent and feels as if he’s acting in a totally different movie. The pacing and plot points are also very strange.
The screenwriters have scenarios in the film that are downright ridiculous and make no sense whatsoever. And the dialogue doesn’t do anyone any favours.
The interaction between the characters just feels as if they have to move the film along and the one-liners are ineffective, with no real comic timing for them to be funny.
I’m also confused as to why they have a big star like Joe Manganiello in the movie as a henchman where he is on-screen for 15 minutes and doesn’t do much and has all his clothes on?
While the CGI and action scenes are well done, it can’t save the film since most of the action takes place in the third act.
'Rampage' very much comes across as 'Sharknado', with better actors and special effects, but a similar state of wackiness.
Looking at director Brad Peyton’s IMDB profile, it makes perfect sense as to why this film has no substance, a bad script, one-dimensional characterisation and plot points that make no sense.
This is one of those movies you can wait for when it comes to Netflix or your TV screen.
You should rather save your money for Avengers: Infinity War, which is coming in the next couple of weeks.