Rampage is as sophisticated as a fine wine, a subtle, nuanced blend of Dwayne Johnson, a giant albino gorilla and hammy villains. From the brilliant mind behind San Andreas, the movie is another destruction-filled orgasm that presumably has the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson and Guillermo del Toro wondering how their careers went awry, unable to take part in such a smart production.
Yes, Rampage more than fulfills its limited expectations, delivering more or less exactly what you should expect from a movie that is primarily about a giant gorilla battling a giant crocodile… and a giant, flying wolf that can shoot giant porcupine quills.
Some may say the movie is stupid, but say nay to the naysayers! Nay! Sure, the movie, written by the guys behind such underrated, Oscar-worthy fare as Non-Stop, Hercules and—a personal favorite—Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, may have concocted a movie that at once takes itself way too seriously and then switches gear to scenes where a villainous Malin Akerman and Jake Lacy spout seemingly terrible (but actually highly intelligent) dialogue at one another, explaining their questionable, nonsensical motives for everyone to understand. And sure, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in the movie to give a mind-blowing performance that deftly balances between award-worthy and cartoonish acting. And yes, Johnson’s character gets shot in the stomach and then proceeds to fight a giant flying wolf and a giant crocodile for the next 20 minutes.
To all the naysayers, I say nay! Nay!
For Johnson once again does what Johnson does (play a charming, I’m-a-straight-male-but-I’d-sleep-with-him-anyway sexy, badass dude), and director Peyton takes a seemingly absurd premise and delivers it with enough respect and entertainment value to take sophistication to a whole other level. The visuals are good, the destruction is mighty, and the concept is simple. The flavors are not.
Seriously, though, Rampage is a lot of fun—just check your brain at the door.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.