Dwayne Johnson co-stars with George, an albino gorilla. Our J.P. saw a press screening of “Rampage” and he has thoughts.
RAMPAGE
Warner Bros. Pictures
- Opens wide: Friday, April 13, 2018
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 for “sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief language, and crude gestures”
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- Directed by Brad Peyton
- Produced by Brad Peyton, Beau Flynn, John Rickard, Hiram Garcia
- Screenplay by Ryan Engle, Carlton Cuse, Ryan J. Condal, Adam Sztykiel
- Story by Ryan Engle
- Based on “Rampage” by Midway Games
- Starring Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Åkerman, Jake Lacy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Studio Synopsis:
In 1993, a breakthrough new technology, known as CRISPR, gave scientists a path to treat incurable diseases through genetic editing. In 2016, due to its potential for misuse, the U.S. Intelligence Community designated genetic editing a “Weapon of Mass Destruction and Proliferation.” Global icon Dwayne Johnson headlines the action adventure “Rampage,” directed by Brad Peyton. Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye, a man who keeps people at a distance but shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, incredibly rare albino silverback gorilla who has been in his care since he rescued the young orphan from poachers. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with discredited geneticist Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.
“Rampage” also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”), Malin Akerman (TV’s “Billions”), Jake Lacy (TV’s “Girls”), Joe Manganiello (TV’s “True Blood”), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s “The Walking Dead”); as well as P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Marley Shelton (TV’s “Rise”), Breanne Hill (TV’s “Frontier”), Jack Quaid (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Matt Gerald (TV’s “Daredevil”), Jason Liles (“Death Note”), Demetrius Grosse (TV’s “The Brave”), and Will Yun Lee (TV’s “Hawaii Five-O”). Peyton directed from a screenplay by Ryan Engle and Carlton Cuse & Ryan J. Condal and Adam Sztykiel, story by Ryan Engle. “Rampage” was produced by Beau Flynn, John Rickard, Brad Peyton and Hiram Garcia. It marks the third collaboration between Johnson, Peyton, Flynn and Garcia, following the international blockbuster hit “San Andreas,” Warner Bros.’ highest grossing film of 2015, as well as 2012’s global smash “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.” Executive producers were Marcus Viscidi, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Jeff Fierson, Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener and Michael Disco The creative team includes director of photography Jaron Presant, production designer Barry Chusid, editors Jim May and Bob Ducsay, and costume designer Melissa Bruning. The music is composed by Andrew Lockington, who created the scores for “San Andreas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.” Serving as co-producers were Wendy Jacobson, Josh Mack and Dana Robin. The “Rampage” creatures were brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause, with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital. A New Line Cinema presentation, in association with ASAP Entertainment, a Wrigley Pictures / F.P.C. / Seven Bucks Productions production, a Brad Peyton Film, “Rampage” will be distributed in 2D and 3D in select theaters, and IMAX, by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. This film has been rated PG-13.
J.P.’s Take:
Monster or Kaiju films has been a favorite genre of mine for quite some time now, although the type made from video games not so much. Occasionally there comes a movie taken from a game which takes me by surprise. “Rampage,” you know the 1986 2D
side scrolling game with the raging gorilla, flying wolf and gargantuan crocodile that tramples the city to rubble while eating people like popcorn? Well it has been cinematized and admittedly I found it just as childishly amusing as the computerized spectacle. Yeah it sounds a bit gruesome, yet the movie takes monster combat to the next level.
On the surface, “Rampage” disguises itself as a child’s film, with a primatologist named Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johson) who cares for his best friend, a massive albino gorilla named George. Wait it gets better. Davis and George are such great friends that they conversant with each other as though there were old college buddies. George doesn’t actually speak by the way; the two communicate using sign language, yet the expressions and actions displayed by the silverback gorilla (CGed) will make you believe he could. Moments in the beginning of the film where the two of them interact give you the feel of comradery between man and beast.
However, you can bet all that family fluff flies right out the window when the carnage begins. And here’s where you don’t need a college degree to figure this plot out. We viewers are allowed to dive right into the chaos. Aboard the space station Athena-1 an experiment went horribly wrong, when a mutated rat took out its crew and destroyed the station. As the station crash landed to Earth so did the mutagen, which landed in four locations. One in which George lived at the animal sanctuary, while the other two landed in a forest and everglades in Florida. Well, if you were a watcher of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon series, you know what happens when a powerful mutagen infects animals. Energyne, the powerful billion dollar genetics corporation headed by brother and sister evil doers Brett (Jake Lacy) and Claire Wyden (Malin Akerman), sends a search team to retrieve the vials that carry the mutagen. Of course, you can put two and two together and by now, it’s too late and they are met by some pretty fierce creatures.
This is the type of movie that is basically set up to give you thrills and humor in the most efficient way possible – nothing more, nothing less. And on that it delivers. “Rampage” also serves as the perfect vehicle for Dwayne Johnson to flex his action hero muscles, along with his physical muscles on the big screen. It works for him in certain ways that he is able to convey his emotional side while he’s also able to keep his manliness intact. Although, to some degree, he ends up taking a back seat to the creatures that he’s up against. I would say George is the real star of this flick as he seems to harvest human emotions as well. Yes, we know he’s a CGed character, but it doesn’t mean he can’t act. There is pain in his eyes when he’s hurt, there is humor in his flippancy, and there’s ferociousness in his anger. He does this with conviction. So, in actuality, the human actors were just there for support.
As for the mortal cast members, I found their performances to be somewhat cartoonish, which is apropos for a flick like this. Jeffery Dean Morgan may as well have revised his role from “The Walking Dead,” as his character of Harvey Russell is a reenactment of Negan with a cowboy tone. Naomi Harris puts on an involved performance as genetic engineer Kate Caldwell. Her concerns about the situation at hand as well as for her counterparts Davis and George were convincing enough. Jake Lacy was the blundering brother to Malin Akerman’s Claire Wyden, the wicked witch of a corporation. P.J. Byrne rings true as loyal friend Nelson to Davis Okoye.
In terms of action, you can expect just what the title suggests. Watching the skyscrapers of Chicago crumble to the ground like gingerbread houses was impressive. Scenes where “Lizzy,” that’s the gigantic croc, tromping through the streets rivaled that of any “Godzilla” movie. The wolf they called “Ralph” was quite a surprise (not to those who know the game of course) when he sprouted wings and flew from buildings. What takes center stage are scenes when George got in some monster bashing as he and old pal Davis team up once again to take down Lizzy and Ralph.
“Rampage” comes roaring to the big screen, loudly, and fiercely with a bit of crassness and humor. Taken at face value it’ll provide stupid adolescent fun.