“Rampage” (PG-13)
Following the worldwide blockbuster success of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back in action hero mode in “Rampage,” a big and loud yet entertaining giant monster movie that doesn’t quite live up the greatness of last year’s smash “Kong: Skull Island,” yet manages to deliver on the expectations of people looking for a mindless escape for a couple hours.
“Rampage” begins with an outlawed man-made pathogen infecting three inhabitants of a San Diego nature preserve – an albino gorilla, a wolf and a crocodile – which weaponizes their DNA and turns them into raging, mutated monsters that destroy everything living creature in their path. Continuing to increase in size and ability, only primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson) and geneticist Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) – who has ties to the laboratory that created the pathogen – can prevent a catastrophe by obtaining an antidote that will calm the monsters’ raging tendencies.
Despite a ridiculous scenario and over-the-top action, “Rampage” is wildly entertaining, as it doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a popcorn movie intent on taking its audiences for a ride. The film reteams Johnson with his “San Andreas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” director Brad Peyton, and both clearly have the same vision to wow their audience with movies that revel in ridiculous premises. The film isn’t nearly as funny or inventive as Johnson’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” but it does have a fine share of unexpected humor to break up the action.
If there are any ties to the 8-bit 1980s arcade game it takes its name from, it’s only with the three creatures – George the gorilla, Ralph the wolf and Lizzie the crocodile – and how they wreak major havoc on buildings in a metropolis. Anyone without prior knowledge wouldn’t begin to suspect that a video game was the source of the film, as Warner Bros. clearly acquired the “Rampage” video game title for branding purposes and hopefully attract viewers with some sort of nostalgia factor.
For movie viewers who don’t care about the source material, “Rampage” has plenty of things going on its own as a movie experience, including winning performances by the always charming Johnson and Naomie Harris, as well as Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivering a kinder, good guy version of his despicable character Negan from “The Walking Dead.” Malin Akerman and Jake Lacy turn in pair of caricature-like performances as the villains in “Rampage” – a pair of siblings who run the corporate lab that hopes to cash in on the promise of weaponized DNA – while Joe Manganiello only appears briefly as mercenary trying to take the mutated creatures out.
While the plot for “Rampage” is as predictable as it gets, at least the special effects are interesting enough to keep the film lively from a visual standpoint. Naturally, “Rampage” sets itself up for a sequel, although Johnson would probably be better off pouring all his energies into another “Jumanji” movie. While also a movie with video game sensibilities, at least there’s a lot more potential for character development than a film that highlights three large creatures crushing vehicles and punching holes in skyscrapers.
Lammometer: 6.5 (out of 10)
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.
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