Twisters

Rating 6/10

Twisters, the standalone sequel to Twister (1996), delivers precisely what one expects from a disaster movie: a thrilling spectacle of special effects designed to dazzle the audience. From beginning to end, the film sprinkles in scenes of people talking, connected by the visual onslaught of crazy storms. Perhaps I was naive to expect a modicum of inspiration or creativity after 28 years, but I’ll admit the destruction is delivered on an epic scale.

Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a weather tracker who works with her group to experiment with disrupting tornados.  A particularly bad tempest grows unexpectedly, causing the deaths of her friends save for Javi (Anthony Ramos). Five years later, Kate is working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in NYC.  She is contacted by Javi, who is now working for a company called Storm Par. His new team is testing a groundbreaking tracking system. Later, they all join up with famous YouTube storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell). His crew members include Boone (Brandon Perea), Lilly (Sasha Lane), and London journalist Ben (Harry Hadden-Paton). They face various challenges as they endeavor to develop a successful method to weaken tornadoes.

Set in America’s heartland, the account taps into Tornado Alley, a region notorious for its severe weather. The setting lends a sense of authenticity, grounding the computer-generated imagery (CGI) in a place known for real-life meteorological drama. The narrative revolves around the classic dynamic of an skeptical, pretty girl and a handsome but arrogant guy. Their initial interactions follow a well-trodden path of conflict and banter, which set the stage for their eventual connection. The script guides them through familiar beats of disagreement and tension, which adheres closely to a formula. There is a certain charm to the predictability. It’s a cliché, but it’s executed with enough spirit to be tolerable.

Director Lee Isaac Chung’s transition from the emotionally resonant Minari to the commercially focused Twisters is a giant leap. The narrative doesn’t aim high in terms of storytelling or character development. However, it doesn’t need to. The viewer is here for the spectacle, and it mostly delivers with visual effects. There’s a scene where Kate blows on the puffball of a dandelion, and the seeds disperse like the plastic flakes in a snow globe. While it’s a minor transgression, it spotlights the lapses in grounded believability.  The exhibition is polished and appealing, but it feels fabricated and weightless.

The chronicle, set in Oklahoma, is populated with a host of random characters drawn from a region deeply rooted in American patriotism, inviting spectators to fill in the blanks left out by the dialogue. These characters — many with exaggerated Southern accents — are so poorly composed that we have no idea what makes them tick. Their hopes, dreams, wishes, political views, religion, or anything that might make them seem real is a complete mystery. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith from a story by Joseph Kosinski is content to be non-specific and avoid alienating any part of the audience who may draw assumptions. They love the excitement of meteorological anomalies, and that’s all you need to know.

Ultimately, Twisters is a special effects fest that doesn’t pretend to be anything more. If you want to sit back and watch Mother Nature wreak havoc on the big screen, this will satisfy that itch. It’s a rollercoaster ride designed to thrill and entertain; in that respect, it succeeds. However, If you’re looking for depth or innovation, this isn’t the film for you. Twisters is fine, but I wasn’t…blown away.

07-18-24