RAMPAGE
US, 2018, 107 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jake Lacey, Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton.
Directed by Brad Peyton.
Rampage lives up to its name. However, the advertising tagline is somewhat misleading, “Big meets Bigger�. It really should be “Big meets Biggest� or even “Big meets the Biggest biggest�. Even the title could be Rampagest.
In the old days, this kind of matinee material would have been enjoyed as what was then called “a hoot�. It is action-packed, does not really let up until the final credits.
In fact, in the opening five minutes, there is some rather spectacular vistas, a spacecraft laboratory, experiments gone wrong, explosions, phials hurtling to earth, an explanation about “Genetic Editing�, its failure to cure humans, it is being banned by the American government in 2016, then a mini-safari in the San Diego Wild Century, an encounter with an albino gorilla, whose name is George, and some sign language dialogue between George and the local primatologist, Davis, played by Dwayne Johnson. A fairly full introduction!
In the meantime, there are two very nasty villains, brother and sister. They run the company behind the spacecraft experiments, wanting to develop samples that would affect animals and be able to use them as weapons. She is ruthlessly intelligent, no redeeming features, Claire, played by Malin Akerman. Her brother, Bret, Jake Lacey, is a bit of a nincompoop.
As you might expect, George is infected, grows larger and larger, more and more violent, has to be caged, but then breaks out. Actually, the Wolf in Wyoming is also infected as is an alligator in the bayous of Florida.
The primatologist is bewildered but a scientist, Kate Caldwell, played by Naomi Harris, he is the news and hurries to the sanctuary. She is not believed – and when a special agent, with more than emphasised Southern drawl, Russell, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, turns up, both Kate and Davis are under suspicion, bound and put on a plane along with George.
Obviously, the military over estimate their capacities and mayhem is let loose on the plane, but the three central characters, Russell being rescued on Davis is back, their escape and are parachuted to earth.
What aggravates the situation and leads to destruction upon destruction is that Claire is determined to have the animals come to the Chicago office, setting up a sonar on the top of the sea is building, uniting the gorilla and the Wolf in their quest, no holds barred. The military is disturbed, trying to curtail the progress, delaying in evacuating Chicago, dismayed as the rampage continues and George goes beyond King Kong, climbing and destroying buildings in Chicago, with the Wolf able to fly and swoop.
Naturally, there is a deadline which leads to split second timing for the solution to all the problems. This involves Davies and Kate going to the caps he is building, confronting Claire who is completely unlikable and, when she dies spectacularly, the audience is tempted to openly cheer.
The action is non-stop, the special effects very exciting, a lot of deadpan dialogue with Dwayne Johnson as usual self-deprecating and some dialogue like “don’t die on me� or “off to save the world…�.
Rampage is critic proof. However, it does what it set out to do, action entertainment for 10-year-old boys (of any age) and this time, with female scientist and female arch-villain, for 10-year-old girls (of any age).
The film to see if you are after an entertaining hoot.
1. The title? Big meets Biggest?
2. An action adventure drawing on the space films, genetic engineering, mutations, scientific arrogance, animals and threats, military and agencies, Special Ops…? Bringing them all together?
3. The action sequences, the animals, the mutants, the sonar drawing them, the destruction of Chicago?
4. The animals, drawing on King Kong? Destruction and drawing on Godzilla? The musical score?
5. Space, The views of the spacecraft, the interiors, the frantic scientist, the experiments, the explosions, the pods coming to earth?
6. The San Diego Sanctuary, Davis as a primatologist, his assistant with the comic touches, the tourists in the jungle, the smart aleck and his fear, moving? George, treatment of Pablo, sign language and communications? George and his personalised activity, audiences identifying with him when he is mutated?
7. The pod, George and the spray, his growing, killing the grizzly bear, put in the cage, breaking out? On the plane, his being released, mayhem on the plane, surviving? Teaming up with the wolf and response to the sonar? Destruction together?
8. Wyoming, the walks, Killers R’ Us, the team, the leader, the helicopters, the wolf growing, the attack, able to fly? Everything on camera for Claire and Brett? Attacking the squad and the leader?
9. The pod in Florida, the alligator, growth, getting to the Great Lakes, joining with George and the wolf in Chicago?
10. Kate Caldwell, the TV news, her going to see Davis, her lies, the agent exposing her? The truth, her background, scientist, with the company, her brother and his illness, wanting a cure, his death? The documents, her being fired? Imprisoned?
11. Davis and Kate being bound, the encounter with Russell, the cowboy style and drawl, put on the plane? Russell and his confidence? The mayhem, Davis taking Russell, the parachutes and their surviving?
12. Claire and Brett, the company, the 1990s, genetic editing, the hopes for cures, the results? The 2016 ban? Their office in Chicago, the Sears building, the experiments, dangerous, doing them in space? The doctor on the spacecraft, Claire and her threats, the destruction of the spacecraft, the pods going to earth? Claire wanting the specimens? Tracking the animals? Sonar and their making their way to Chicago? Claire as ruthless, her brother as weak? Ultimately confronting Davis and Kate, Claire shooting Davis? Audience cheers as she fell into the destructive jaws? Brett, wanting to escape, encountering Russell, the computer, going outside and being crushed?
13. The military, with Russell and his agency, wanting to confront the animals, the tactics? Davis and Kate stealing the medical helicopter? Russell helping them? Flying to Chicago, the mayhem in the city, the decision to evacuate the city? To drop the bomb?
14. The visuals of the rampage, the two animals, the killing, the countryside, into the city, the buildings, the boat on the river, climbing the buildings like King Kong?
15. The time limit, the deadline? Davis and Kate, the building, the search, the antidote? Confrontation with Claire?
16. The animals arriving at the building, the cure, the sonar destroyed, the animals fighting amongst themselves? George and his confrontation with the wolf? George and his help, being wounded, seeming to die, Davis and his emotions, the sign language and George joking? Joking about Davis and Kate together? Russell and his help?
17. The popular ingredients, the deadpan dialogue, the special effects, the action – a cinema hoot?
