If you’re in the thirty to fifty range, and spent?any?time in an arcade, you know that you could choose to spend a quarter to play as George (gorilla), Ralph (wolf), or Lizzie (Godzilla-like lizard). Now, as The Rock explores his various nostalgic takes (Rampage?=?Jurassic World, Skyscraper=Die Hard, Jumanji=… Jumanji?), we get a Midway game brought to life in all of its CGI-glory. It ain’t Oscar-worthy, but it’s a good time even if you don’t get to mash all the buttons.
Thanks to the nefarious business/science dealings of Energyne, run by Claire Wyden (Malin Ackerman), and their crashed space satellite, a pathogen impacts a grey wolf, a crocodile, and primatologist David Okoye’s (Dwayne Johnson) buddy, George the gorilla. The government, in the person of Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), shows up, as does Naomie Harris’ Dr. Kate Caldwell, a geneticist whose brother died because of Energyne. Soon, it’s up to George and Okoye to save themselves – and maybe the planet – from eradication.
The film isn’t super brainy – it doesn’t try to be and it doesn’t?need?to be. But it’s an action smash-up that leaves you reasonably entertained, without being terribly dark or visually disturbing. George, Ralph, and Lizzie are going to smash some things; The Rock will drop a bunch of quick quips; the bad guys will lose. It’s easy entertainment for everyone!
Special features include “Not A Game Anymore,” “Rampage – Actors in Action,” “Attack on Chicago,” “Bringing George to Life,” “Trio of Destruction,” deleted scenes, and the gag reel.
