“Skyscraper” (PG-13)
It’s “Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno” in “Skyscraper,” a mindless summer popcorn action thriller that despite its obvious influences is very entertaining.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as Will Sawyer a former FBI hostage rescuer-turned-security adviser who is contracted to inspect the tallest skyscraper in the world, a 3,500-foot tower in Hong Kong. However, just as the state-of-the-art top half of the skyscraper is about to open to the public, terrorists set the 90th floor on fire, and since they’ve highjacked the security system and fire safety mechanism, the blaze is spreading upward. That’s a big concern to Sawyer, since his wife (Neve Campbell) and two kids are on the 98th floor.
AUDIO: Click above to listen to Tim’s review of “Skyscraper” with Tom Barnard on “The KQ Morning Show.”
The action scenes in “Skyscraper” are over-the-top ridiculous (in one scene he leaps from a construction crane to a broken window in the tower while 100 stories up), but who cares? The movie is intense, the special effects are spectacular (those with fear of heights might get queasy) and the always likable Johnson is exactly the sort of action hero needed for the role.
AUDIO: Click here to listen to Tim’s review of “Skyscraper” with Paul Douglas on WCCO-AM Radio (segment begins 8:30 in)
Sure, The Rock doesn’t measure up to the “King of Cool” himself, Steve McQueen, from “The Towering Inferno” nor does he have the snappy one-liners Bruce Willis made classic in “Die Hard” (Yippie Kay ki ya mother f … anyone?), but he certainly gets resourceful like Willis’ John McLean does by putting duct tape and other items (his prosthetic leg) to good use. All told, “Skyscraper,” is just a fun summer romp.
Lammometer 7.5 (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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