Movie Review: Rampage

When I was a kid, I used to play a game on the NES called "Rampage". There wasn't a lot of depth to it, but it did keep us amused for longer than it should have. The basic premise is that you play as a genetically engineered monster, and you destroy cities. You would punch the shit out of buildings, and for some reason I remember looking for women taking baths. It was really classy. Like I said, there was not a lot of depth. So, how could one turn this game into a movie? Well, with The Rock, of course.

First off, let me just say that I am no movie buff. The amount of huge, classic movies that I have not seen would probably surprise anyone. So I don't know anything about cinematography, or great directing. I base my enjoyment of movies off of one major criteria: did it entertain me. And if I really liked it, would I watch it again. And that's about it. So all of you huge movie fans that want to pick my opinion on this movie apart, chill out. It's going to fall on deaf ears.

"Rampage", released in 2018, is somehow loosely based on the classic video game of the same name, and stars Dwayne Johnson. I've always liked him. I've found that any movie with him, I have enjoyed. Though, I will say that I have not seen them all. I think he's a fantastic actor, and by many accounts, seems like a nice guy. And that was probably the only reason that I even gave this movie some of my time.

This movie took a lot crap from people, but for me, I was well entertained. It centers around a company hard at work, making bio-weapons. I know, that's one concept that has never been done before (that was sarcasm). Well, by some weird twist of plot, the bio-engineering goes wrong (gasp!). After the failed experiment, what we end up with are a giant wolf, reptile, and gorilla. It's your basic enlarged, angry animal scenario. And though it may be played out, I enjoyed it. I was able to sit, and just enjoy the cheese that was quickly unfolding in front of me. And yes, this movie did move very fast. The plot never really dragged, it just kept marching along to the conclusion.

The acting was great, and even starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who I have loved since his Supernatural, and Grey's Anatomy days. Though, I will say that the antagonists could use another acting class or two. But they weren't really in the movie enough for that to detract from the film. And Dwayne Johnson is always fantastic to me.

Would I watch this movie again? I don't know, maybe. It doesn't really play off as one of those movies that could possibly give me something new with repeated watches. But what it did give me was a solid, late night viewing. At least enough to keep me awake until it was time to sneak off to bed. And for that, I thank the makers of Rampage for a damned decent movie.