Starring Dwayne Johnson, Malin Åkerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Naomie Harris

Directed by Brad Peyton

Warner Bros., available now digitally and on DVD, 4K Ultra HD & Blu-Ray on 20th August.

When canisters of DNA-editing gas crash to Earth, transforming an ape, wolf and alligator into giant rampaging beasts, only primatologist Davis Okoye can save the day.

I’m not going to give this movie too much of a kicking, as it’s pretty clear from the poster and marketing what you’re going to get – a movie based on a series of video games, with three monsters having a big scrap and Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson raising his trademark eyebrow and firing huge guns. And it is exactly that movie. I still think there’s a place for monster movies, and I’ve always been a sucker for this genre, but script-wise there’s little difference from the screenplay to this movie and one of those awful SyFy Monster A vs Monster B efforts.

This is a film that focuses on a mysterious genetic bio-gas that’s so potent it can only be experimented on in outer space, managed by an evil organisation run by complete idiots (Malin Åkerman and Jake Lacy).This super potion takes the best DNA from the animal kingdom and creates an elixir that grows and enhances its subjects. It’s somewhat ironic that the filmmakers also took the best bits from other films (King Kong, Alligator, Godzilla) and created their own hybrid beast.

In fairness, Johnson is in on it from the outset, spouting the sort of jokey, ridiculous dialogue that can only exist in this sort of world. ‘Call 911!’ he barks when albino gorilla George, who at this point is huge, smashes his way out of a cage and through multiple walls. Erm, you think? Jeffrey Dean Morgan is also having fun as Negan in a suit, sharing lines like ‘When science shits the bed, I’m the one they send to change the sheets!’ Poor Oscar-nominated Naomie Harris (Skyfall, SPECTRE) maintains her dignity throughout the carnage but must surely have wondered what she’d let herself in for.

The special effects for George are very good, as is the city destruction. Unlike the great primate, the wolf and gator don’t just grow, they display extra powers and body parts. Will George and Okoye be able to stop the beasts before the locked and loaded Stealth Bomber drops its payload on downtown Chicago? Have a guess.

The movie stands up well to the smaller screen, even if that does in some ways show its videogame roots more; sadly, there’s no commentary, but around an hour of extras including a note of where the film homages the original game, and how the creatures were brought to life (see below). The deleted scenes are inessential; the gag reel is fun.

Verdict: I laughed all the way through this monster mash, equal parts at it and with it. Not so much Kong: Skull Island, it’s George: Numbskull Rock. If you’re in the right (forgiving) mood you’ll have a blast, but there may be that nagging doubt in the back of your mind that you’ve just watched the dumbest big studio movie of the year. 6/10

Nick Joy

 

Rampage is available now digitally and on DVD, 4K Ultra HD & Blu-Ray on 20th August. Click here to order the Bluray from Amazon.co.uk