Movie Review - Rampage

Rampage ***½ (out of 5) (PG-13) If there’s still any question of whether pro wrestlers really hurt each other, the negative answer can be found in the post-ring choices of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. No post-concussion syndrome in evidence here, as he consistently selects suitable scripts, and reliably brings his considerable charm and energy to the roles. Plenty of respected actors have more stumbles on their resumes than he.

That makes Rampage a light-hearted action flick that is sure to please his fans. Johnson stars as a gorilla expert who is closely bonded with one named George at a San Diego sanctuary. They communicate quite well via sign language, including the ability to joke with each other. Unfortunately, some evil corporate genetic manipulators (Malin Ackerman, as a neo-Bond villain) are running an experiment in space that blows up - literally and figuratively - as the movie opens. Contaminants plummet to Earth, infecting George and a couple of other critters with highly accelerated growth, strength and aggression. They’re soon into Godzilla territory, with only The Rock and a good-hearted scientist (Naomie Harris) striving to save us from the animals, corporate greed and the genre’s standard military and governmental arrogance.

The script is full of delightful humor, including a few surprisingly clever morsels. The action meets or exceeds most viewers’ minimum daily adrenalin needs. One certainly should try for the biggest screen in range, if not 3-D, for the most frenetic sequences, as well as the nuanced persona of the huge muscular primate who isn’t named Johnson. People joke about The Rock running for President. But if he can make policy decisions as well as he picks and performs his projects, he could be a contendah. (4/13/18)

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