Tornado Valley

I can't say that this film is actually "awful." It's just not very good. There's not as much action as you might expect and the CGI tornadoes are pretty weak. (Everybody stands around in bright sunlight and a little wind comes up. The next thing you know, a tornado funnel that appears to be about 20' across just drops down into the meadow and pulls somebody away...very slowly. There's no sense of collateral damage, ferocious winds, or even darkened skies. No rain, hail, or flying debris. It's sort of a four-year-old's conception of a tornado.)

This would be bad enough, but the "family story" side of it is also pretty maudlin. I don't know who originally broadcast this, but I'm guessing it was the Hallmark Channel. Absolutely no bite to it.

Definitely not worth your time.

So this was basically a cheap version of Twister. It was made for tv and it's nothing spectacular. But it's not so bad. I thought it was a decent 'lifetime' movie. (Don't think it was actually lifetime, but reminded me of those sorts) A one time watch. Yes, the effects were laughable, but the story wasn't bad.

You may be wondering how I came up with my review summary title "Rub-a-dub-dub two (2) girls in a tub", well if you are curious then you will have to relax and watch the entire film just like I did. Trust me, it will be worth your while and disregard the negative reviews associated with this movie title.

Granted, this is by no means a film classic, nor is it a master disaster film, and the balanced storyline between an imminent disaster (tornado), a lifetime of self blame, and a broken marriage (between Meredith Monroe and Cameron Bancroft) all play a part in this decent drama/thriller.

There was even a very touching scene between the fine performance of actress Rachel Pattee who plays Meredith Monroe's young daughter Becky, and Becky's distraught Aunt Ellie (Played by Pascale Hutton) who is self confined to her farmhouse and left speechless by the family tragedy that occurred 25 years earlier. Becky lovingly is able to reach deep inside her Aunt Ellie's feelings of guilt and fear and draw a simple smile from her Aunt Ellie. It's a touching scene that makes you proud that such a caring neice does exist and we all wish little Becky was our daughter/neice and/or friend.

Regardless of what the other reviewers said, (maybe they get off on wham/bam type of films and their more impressed with overly graphic displays of imitated CGI) I really liked this schmaltzy melodramatic made for TV movie, and the performances by the entire cast were all above par.

I give the film a praiseworthy 7 out of 10 rating. It is well worth watching and look for the two girls in the tub to understand my review summary title.

WOW!.. from the get go u will think.... "what the.." then... "get off n run stupid!..." then.. "just grab her little butt n run!!..." THEN......"why the hell am I still watching this?!.." The way the storm came over the trees WITHOUT displacing them in any kind of way is laughable! Maybe this is a comedy... Who knows.

I do know this movie is lame from the beginning. I'd be embarrassed to be associated with this movie. I assume this is a 'foot in the door' for some new young actors to get their face out there or for some desperate actor taking on whatever role they can to grab some money to make ends meet.. Cause DAMN!!! really???!!

XP

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but not every movie has to have state of the art visual effects for me to enjoy it. So they don't destroy L.A., or the planet, but the characters are well drawn, good acting, and it is an enjoyable film. Want a gory disaster film? Watch something else. Want a nice movie? Watch this.