Rampage: Furia animale

"Why did they miss the opportunity to name this movie "Wolf Blitzer"?". Dwayne Johnson is not just the gentle giant, he is the likeable giant who talks softly and carries a big stick AND has the brains to boot. That pleasing voice of his that is almost broadcast quality helps too. So he is all of that in this film that carries few surprises, but if you like Johnson and you are in the mood for a smash-em-up film that is pretty much paint by numbers with predictable supporting characters out of central casting, this should fit the bill.

Johnson plays a primatologist who befriends a silver backed gorilla named George, and the two communicate using sign language. But one night, from a destroyed space station, three canisters loaded with a gene mutating pathogen land on earth and in - of course - the United States. If they landed in China, Russia, and Afghanistan this would be a much different movie! One canister exposes George, another a wolf, and another a crocodile in the Everglades. Cue evil corporate baddies, the military who can be both a help and a hurt in these situations, a complete misrepresentation of CRSPR technology, and, of course, the mutated wolf flies.

Like I said, if you just want to put your brain on hold this is not a bad time passer and pretty much gives you what you expect in a routine action film.

Based on the 1986 video game of the same name Rampage is the mindless cgi filled take your brain out movie you'd expect, but has a bit of charm to it (Bit).

I played Rampage as a kid, it was one of those fantastic games that got sequels but nothing that followed ever came close to meeting its quality. But it had no story, it was devoid of plot! So how could you possibly make a movie based on it over 30yrs later?

Well they did and the story is thinner than Kate Moss's waistline. It tells the story of everyones favourite wrestler turner actor the Rock chasing after the genetically modified gorilla he saved years before. Cue cgi, chaos, monsters, falling buildings, explosions and all the usual tropes.

With all three original monster George, Ralph and Lizzie (Though nobody acknowledges Lizzie's name) it's about as loyal as it can physically be considering the lack of material to actually work with.

I still can't get my head around why they would make it? Whats next? Tetris? Lemmings? Worms? Roland on the Ropes?

It's big, it's shiney, it's overbudget and it's as dumb as they come. Generally I despise films like this and consider them to be a problem within the industry but credit where credit is due Rampage does have some redeeming qualities.

Some of the humour is on point, it's heart is in the right place and Jeffrey Dean Morgan steals the entire film.

Passable stuff if you can get past the sheer unadulterated stupidity of it all.

The Good:

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

A few nods to the video game

The Bad:

Dumb beyond belief

Simply shouldn't really exist

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Jeffrey Dean Morgans face should be in the dictionary next to awesome, amazing and godlike.

Forgetting Lizzie's name is just lame

Genetic engineering turns wolves into porcupines and squirrel monkeys

I suddenly want to play the original game!

"Rampage," directed by Brad Peyton and starring Dwayne Johnson, delivers a high-octane, monster-filled spectacle. The film is loosely based on the classic arcade game, featuring giant mutated animals wreaking havoc on a city. Johnson plays Davis Okoye, a primatologist with a strong bond to an albino gorilla named George, who is one of the creatures transformed by a rogue genetic experiment.

The movie excels in its special effects, with impressively rendered monsters and large-scale destruction that provide thrilling visuals. Dwayne Johnson's charismatic performance adds a layer of charm and humor, making the outlandish premise more enjoyable. The dynamic between Davis and George adds an emotional core to the otherwise action-heavy narrative.

However, "Rampage" struggles with a thin and predictable plot. The characters outside of Johnson's are mostly one-dimensional, serving primarily to advance the action. While the film delivers on the excitement and spectacle, it lacks depth and originality in its storytelling.

Overall, "Rampage" is a fun, mindless action film that entertains with its giant monster battles and charismatic lead, but falls short in narrative complexity and character development.

Every single cliche of an action/horror/adventure flick rolled up into one. The charisma of the two big guys (Dwayne and George) carry the entire movie. This movie is not going to change your life, but it will keep you mildly amused.

Appreciate this film for what it is: fun, mindless, action-filled entertainment. No need to dissect, analyse or compare this. My only few complaints are that the writing was too loose and should have been edited down by 15-20 mins to keep the pace more elevated throughout. Also, not a fan of the Energyne CEO sister and brother characters - they were way too cheesy and annoying and cheapened the film. All other actors were cast and performed great, and Dwayne entertained as always. The SFX/VFX were also great. A fun and well deserved 8/10 from me