Loud and proud crazy capers
Rampage (12A)
Given the over-the-top madness of their previous collaboration San Andreas, you would be forgiven for expecting a distinct lack of subtlety and intellect in Dwayne Johnson and director Brad Peyton’s latest link-up.
Throw in the fact Rampage is based on a classic arcade game and, among its many insane developments, includes a giant flying wolf laying waste to city blocks and you’ve got a surefire candidate for this year’s craziest flick.
Johnson stars as primatologist Davis, whose bond with gorilla George is shaken when he becomes one of three animals infected with a dangerous pathogen that sees them grow in size and develop humanity-threatening skill-sets.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first; if you are looking for a logical story, well-developed characters and a quiet night at the cinema, then Rampage is not the film for you.
But if you like loud-and-proud blockbusters that leave you munching away on your popcorn and able to nip to the toilet without missing any crucial plot points then Rampage is well worth a viewing.
After more than matching Vin Diesel and Jason Statham in the Fast & Furious series, and conquering everything from aliens and spies to tutus in his previous work, Peyton gives Johnson his biggest challenge to date with the Godzilla-like mega monsters.
True, we’ve seen this type of city-wide carnage destruction often enough in the past – even as recently as last month in Pacific Rim: Uprising – but it’s given an added layer of resonance thanks to Davis’ relationship with George.
It’s the film’s best connection as Johnson’s scenes with Naomie Harris’ geneticist Dr Caldwell never really click, and other big names like Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Harvey Russell) and Joe Manganiello (Burke) come and go so fast that you can’t help but think Peyton only had both on board for a limited time due to other commitments.
The screenplay – penned by no fewer than four writers – wisely has the cast embrace the absurdity of it all and some of the one-liners would be right at home in a Schwarzenegger eighties-actioner.
It’s no surprise Peyton turned to the effects wizards at Weta to bring the trio of big beasties to life – and the studio does another remarkable job.
Wolf Ralph and crocodile Lizzie are heartless juggernauts hell-bent on destruction, whereas George is like a mix between King Kong and Planet of the Apes’ Caesar.
As is often the case in blockbusters, the digital creations put most of their human counterparts in the shade – but Johnson’s soulful charisma is so infectious, he more than holds his own.
Rarely has a film been as aptly titled as Rampage; bombarding the senses for nearly two hours, it does exactly what it says on the tin.