Today’s quick review: Rampage. Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson), a San Diego primatologist, faces a new kind of challenge when George (Jason Liles), the albino gorilla he cares for, is exposed to a chemical that grows the gorilla to enormous size and drives him berserk. Aided by Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), a scientist who helped develop the chemical, Davis must find a way to stop George before his rampage claims any more lives.
Rampage is a sci-fi action movie based on the video game of the same name. Rampage pits Davis, Kate, and the US Army against a trio of creatures that have been modified by illegal genetic experimentation. The movie features an over-the-top premise, robust special effects, and plenty of action. However, its script and its characters leave something to be desried, turning what could have been a great action film into merely a good one.
Rampage’s biggest draw, appropriately enough, is its monsters. A gorilla, a wolf, and an alligator are all exposed to the chemical, turning each one into a giant engine of destruction. The bulk of the movie’s action involves the creatures plowing through soldiers, buildings, and anything else in their way while shrugging off bombs and bullets. For his part, Dwayne Johnson is right at home with the creatures, able to hold his own without upstaging them.
Still, Rampage holds few surprises. The movie plays its premise straight through with no real twists. The high body count and lack of jokes make it more serious than one might expect, although Davis and George have a fun dynamic before the latter’s transformation. Few of the characters are likable, and the human villains (Malin Akerman and Jake Lacy), a pair of corrupt executives responsible for the outbreak, are almost nonentities.
Rampage makes for a fine popcorn watch for fans of large-scale destruction, but it misses the chance to be something more. Slight tweaks to the plot logic, characters, and tone would have yielded a fuller realization of the movie’s vision. As it stands, Rampage makes good on its promise of monster-centric action but offers little more. For other action movies in a similar vein, check out Pacific Rim, Kong: Skull Island, or Transformers.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid action with a few missed opportunities.