We’ve gotten used to video games becoming the inspiration for movies. The 1986 arcade game, Rampage, pitted three larger than life creatures against military forces while laying waste to the surrounding landscapes. Many quarters were spent feeding players’ appetites for destruction. The game found its way to home consoles with its most popular version being released on Nintendo 64 in 1997. Here we are just over twenty years later and it’s made another transition, this time on the big screen. How well does the chaotic carnage of Rampage translate to a big budget live action movie?
Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) is a primatologist (one who studies nonhuman primates) that is very passionate about his profession. One of the reasons for his strong love for these animals is George. Davis rescued George when he as a very young gorilla. George’s parents were just killed by poachers and Davis couldn’t stand by and allow harm to come to this scared primate. Over the years the two share a bond that is stronger than many people have. They communicate through sign language know just how to get under the other’s skin.
When an unsanctioned biological experiment is accidentally released into the wild, George is one of the creatures affected. The physical changes are almost immediate as George grows to an unnaturally large size. In addition to George’s transformation, other creatures are going through similar changes. To complicate matters further, the ones behind this DNA altering phenomenon will stop at nothing to profit from this situation. Davis tries to save his friend safely while battling another deadly oversized threat at the same time.
If you’ve seen the trailers, you already know that this will be a very unbelievable action adventure filled with special effects, crumbling buildings and lots of destruction. Just stating the obvious here. You can throw any thoughts and/or hopes of realism right out the window because it DOES NOT exist. Dwayne Johnson is charming and also an action icon, as he usually is. His ability to display just the right level of humor at any given time is something that you’ll get to see a lot of in Rampage.
Another actor that provides a good amount of value is Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who these days is better known as AMC’s The Walking Dead’s Negan. The good news is that if you’re familiar with that character’s attitude and disposition, you’ll be all about his Harvey Russell character in Rampage. Some of the other notable actors include Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, and Joe Manganiello. Aside from Johnson and Morgan, George is the other character that’s worth seeing. These three do all of the heavy lifting and are entertaining to watch.
Dwayne Johnson is one of those actors that has the charm, and the broad shoulders to carry an otherwise overtly average adventure to box office sustainability. This is pretty much the case for Rampage as it is his onscreen presence that carries yet another average movie across the line of mediocrity to somewhat of a moderate success. Despite the cheesiness and CGI saturated action sequences, there is a good deal over entertainment to be had. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if you happen to like nonsensical plots with some well placed humor and, of course, Dwayne Johnson. He, once again, flexes those box office biceps for some big gains as this tears into theaters this weekend.
