Review of Rampage (2018) by Dave M — 11 Apr 2018

"Rampage" (PG-13, 1:47) is a sci-fi action-adventure loosely based on the Midway Games video game series of the same name, which was released in six versions between 1986 and 2006. Brad Peyton directs the screenplay by a team of writers led by Ryan Engle ("The Commuter", "Non-Stop"). This film reunites star Dwayne Johnson with his "San Andreas" & "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" director.

Johnson is Davis Okoye, a primatologist who works at an animal preserve in San Diego and takes care of an intelligent albino silverback gorilla named George. Davis is a former U.S. Army special forces soldier who became the leader of an anti-poaching unit in Rwanda where he saved George's life when the gorilla was very young. Davis raised George, taught him sign language and bonded with him emotionally.

When George is accidentally exposed to a toxin which alters animal genes, he begins to grow at an alarming rate and become more aggressive. Scientist Dr. Kate Caldwell (Oscar nominee Naomi Harris) shows up to explain what's happening to George and who's to blame. Davis and Kate join forces to save George from those who want to capture and/or kill him (including Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a government fixer) - and to save people and property from harm by George - and some similarly afflicted animals.

"Rampage" is a mindless monster movie... but it's also mildly enjoyable. It's a low-rent combination of "King Kong", "Godzilla" and the "Jurassic Park" movies. The villains are all cardboard cutouts and the heroes aren't developed much better as characters. The action is fun to watch, but it doesn't make a lot of sense, nor does much of the plot. The relationship between Davis and George has depth, ranging from sweet and funny to life-and-death intense, but it's not enough to carry the movie. "C+".