It’s not over for ‘Terminator’

Schwarzenegger’s return puts humor back in ‘Genisys’

Arnold Schwarzenegger came back for “Terminator Genisys.”

So … thing?

REVIEW

is

that a good

It probably is for the Terminator franchise, which had served up two straight lackluster chapters (the last one without him, except for a cameo). And it’s good for Schwarzenegger’s post-political career, which seemingly depends on how well he can revive former roles (don’t be surprised when Hollywood feels the need to see how a 70-year-old Conan the Barbarian is faring).

As for you, the moviegoer, how well “Terminator Genisys” works depends on your mindset. It’s certainly watchable, despite the temptation to figure out the jumble of time-travel math. But if you think this is a ticket back to the surprising quality and dark tone of the original 1984 film, you will be disappointed.

On the plus side, Schwarzenegger brings his familiar charisma to the project, which allows the franchise to regain its sense of humor for the first time since the second “Terminator” film. Seeing Schwarzenegger in a new “Terminator” movie is like visiting a favorite uncle from childhood; it’s enjoyable, even though he’s not exactly how you remember.

The new film’s foundation centers heavily on what happened in the first two installments, as director Alan Taylor (“Thor: The Dark Arnold Schwarzenegger adds a welcome dose of humor in his return as a Terminator in “Terminator Genisys,” the latest in the storied sci-fi franchise. World”) attempts to refocus the story arc. As the film opens, John Connor (Jason Clarke) is winning the battle against Skynet, the terrorinspiring computer web that nuked most of humanity into dust. Connor knows Skynet’s last play is to send a Terminator into the past to kill his mother, Sarah (Emilia Clarke). He sends his lieutenant Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) through time to stop Skynet’s Terminator.

If it sounds like the story line from the original 1984 film, the new twist is that someone (who remains the film’s big mystery) sent old Uncle Arnie back to protect Sarah just after she was orphaned as a child. Now, as Sarah’s father-figure (she calls him “Pop,” which is kind of weird, but OK), he takes on her enemies, who also includes a more modern, unnecessary, nonSchwarzenegger Terminator, also sent back to kill Sarah from some unknown time.

Right. Because time travel isn’t complicated enough for us to wrap our brains around.

After the much anticipated Arnold versus Arnold showdown — it isn’t nearly as spectacular as the trailer leads us to believe — Kyle, Sarah and Pop eventually head back to the future to stop Skynet. That’s where they’re met by a John Connor who turns out to be someone other than who we thought he was (that’s not a spoiler, it was divulged in the film’s trailer). John becomes the supercharged nemesis, in a refreshing change that allows Jason Clarke to shrug off the heroic John Connor legacy and pump his revised character full of sneering badness.

Until bad John emerges, “Terminator Genisys” suffers from its natural comparisons to the first two films. Emilia Clarke gives a decently sassy, if a bit soft, performance as Sarah Connor. But she doesn’t have the chance to develop into a badass before our eyes like Linda Hamilton did. And Courtney’s version of Reese simply lacks Michael Biehn’s sharp, steely-eyed intensity. And the necessary chemistry between Sarah and Kyle is shaky at best.

Despite all that, here’s why the movie eventually works: Schwarzenegger can still pull off a stoic, albeit aged, Terminator. Let’s face it, he’s likable in the role, especially this time when he’s doing the dad-threatensthething. And when the real action finally picks up, it’s like being launched forward on a crazy roller coaster after minor repairs kept you waiting in the station too long.

Whether the franchise can actually be revived — and there are a couple of big, unresolved plot points that make it obvious that’s the intention — is debatable. The bottom line is that “Terminator Genisys” is a fun ride, as long as fans accept that it’s not up to the standards set by the original. But at least it’s the franchise’s best big-screen effort in more than two decades.

Contact Tony Hicks at Facebook.com/ BayAreaNewsGroup or Twitter.com/tonyhicks67.