There was a game back in the mid 80’s called Rampage that centered around controlling gigantic monsters as they fend off the military. Over thirty years later, the video comes to life (sort of) on the big screen starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Warning, spoilers ahead…
Video games turned feature films don’t always fair well both from a critical standpoint let alone in the box office. The star power of Dwayne Johnson and the lack of competition should give Rampage the weekly box. The premise is quite simple if not completely ludicrous, Johnson plays a Primatologist named Davis Okoye who prefers the company of animals over humans. Davis has a special bond with an albino gorilla, George who’s intelligence is undeniable. George was saved by Davis shortly after birth when poachers slaughtered his family. But when a genetic experiment in space comes crashing down to earth, its contents mutates George from a gentle ape into a raging mad creature of incredible size. Of course George is not the lone animal affected by this. Other predators like a wolf (that can also fly) and an alligator are also altered and together they wreck havoc on Chicago, destroying everything in their path. Davis ends up teaming up with a discredited genetic engineer (Naomie Harris) from the company responsible for creating all this chaos to try and secure an antidote and save the day, if you smell what The Rock is cooking.
Co-starring in this romp is Malin Akerman who plays the stereotypical heartless corporate baddie and Jeffery Dean Morgan, a government agent who answers the important question of what Negan did before the zombie apocalypse. Is Rampage more fun than its source material? No but the outrageous action and over the top destruction almost makes Michael Bay films look tame by comparison. If you’re scratching for a fun popcorn film to watch and tie you over till the big films of Summer arrive, Rampage should satisfy that itch.
Directed by: Brad Peyton
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jake Lacy and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
PG13 107 Mins
RAMPAGE – ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
