ReelBob: ‘Rampage’ ★★

By Bob Bloom

“Rampage” is a big, dumb, snack-munching, creature-feature monster movie that asks nothing of you, but to sit back, relax and enjoy the improbable ride.

The only people who may be offended by the film are the residents of Chicago, who could protest seeing their downtown being leveled by a trio of genetically-mutated animals — a giant gorilla, a giant wolf that can sprout wings and fly, and a humongous crocodile that can swallow vehicles in a single gulp.

The movie is silly, for sure. Its major flaw is that it does not embrace the ridiculous premise wholeheartedly.

“Rampage” takes itself a bit too seriously, trying to claw its way as a straight sci-fi, big beasty excursion.

Keeping it from going over the cliff is the charisma of Dwayne Johnson as primatologist Davis Okeye, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as government agent Harvey Russell.

Johnson’s sign-language interactions with George, the albino gorilla he rescued and raised, is humorous and touching, as is his determination to save his “friend” from being killed. Morgan brings a bit of wild west swagger and parody to the party.

Of course, the movie features the usual corporate bad guys who want to weaponized the genetic breakthroughs they have created. The worst is Malin Akerman’s Claire Wyden, who runs the corrupt company. She is an unreformed badass who revels in her devious enterprises.

Her comeuppance, by the way, is a thing of beauty and should elicit some cheers.

Director Brad Peyton, working from a script cobbled together by four writers, keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, so you don’t really have enough time to digest the outlandishness of the whole endeavor.

The film is based on an arcade game, which explains why some sequences of titanic animals swatting various vehicles on land and in the air seem so cartoonish.

Jason Liles motion-capture performance as George and the special effects and CGI artists who worked on the movie deserve most of the credit for keeping “Rampage” afloat.

Johnson, at times, seems to be going through the motions, emitting an almost been-there, done-that vibe, reusing the same mannerisms he has demonstrated countless times before.

When Morgan is on the screen, “Rampage” sizzles. It is as if he wandered in from another movie. He is having a blast, realizing that it is all stuff-and-nonsense, and it’s best just to go along for the ride.

“Rampage” is a guilty-pleasure outing, easily digested. It’s like a visit to a cinematic amusement park — a nice diversion to simply pass the time away.

I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

RAMPAGE
2 stars out of 4
(PG-13), sequences of violence, action and destruction, language, crude gestures