“Of course the wolf flies.” “I was just thinking the only thing that’s missing right now is a giant crocodile.“
The trailers for Dwayne Johnson’s upcoming action movie Rampage, based on the video game series, wasn’t shy in its trailers about embracing its ridiculous concept. When you’re going to have The Rock team up with a monster-sized gorilla to save Chicago from a giant wolf and huge reptile you obviously aren’t trying to make the Citizen Kane of the animal kingdom, you’re promising moviegoers a super fun, entertaining experience. So did it deliver on its promise? Based on the first reactions to the film after it’s world premiere in Los Angeles it certainly sounds like it did.
Our Dan Casey was in attendance and he got the movie he wanted and expected to see.
#Rampage was incredibly fun and exactly the movie I hoped it would be. Just ridiculous, delightful, explosive B-movie silliness from top to bottom starring @TheRock as an indestructible primatologist. pic.twitter.com/1yopRcPrj6
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) April 5, 2018
He wasn’t alone in having his popcorn-flick expectations filled either, because it sounds like this is one of those times where calling something “mindless” is a huge compliment.
#Rampage: This movie is exactly what you think it's going to be. Afterward, a guy near me said to his friend, "That was great. You didn't have to think AT ALL!"
— Ben Pearson (@benpears) April 5, 2018
All I heard from other audience members while watching #Rampage last night was “this is f—— awesome.†It’s ridiculous and entertaining and @JDMorgan’s character is so much fun to watch. @TheRock #RampageMovie
— Beatrice Verhoeven (@bverhoev) April 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/SassyMamainLA/status/981779074690371584
RAMPAGE is the ultimate guilty pleasure. Brad Peyton has created a big budget B movie & Dwayne Johnson delivers his most outrageous performance to date. #Rampage is the ultimate monster movie and is non-stop campy fun. Did I mention that Dwayne Johnson fights a giant flying wolf? pic.twitter.com/0aFNqnxRl7
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) April 5, 2018
Rampage is big, loud and fun as hell. Especially touching to see the Harambe in memoriam card during the closing credits. @TheRock’s got another massive hit on his hands! #RampageMovie
— One-Armed Bandit (@S_Weinstein95) April 5, 2018
Harambe died so that Rampage could live?
Rampage is ridiculous and fun!
It's a big movie, kind of like Transformers, back in the days when they were pretty good, but with giant monsters.
Rampage embraces what it is visciously well, so that @TheRock and @JDMorgan can be epic on screen! Buckle up. pic.twitter.com/NhtyeuY3eS
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) April 5, 2018
Jeffrey Dean Morgan was also singled out for his performance by many in attendance, although the film’s main villain seems to have left a lot to be desired.
RAMPAGE was a mindless, popcorn action flick, in all the best ways. the VFX looked great, and watching the creatures destroy a full city was pretty awesome. Jeffery Dean Morgan steals the movie, only negative I have is the villain is a little to over the top.
— Skyler Shuler (@SkylerShuler) April 5, 2018
Jeffery Dean Morgan’s character was great. The movie really did capture the ridiculousness of the game.
— Skyler Shuler (@SkylerShuler) April 5, 2018
Even the harshest criticism, which came from /Film’s Peter Sciretta, had praise for The Rock’s relationship with George.
#Rampage certainly doesn’t break the video game movie curse and has some of the worst villains I’ve seen on screen this year (and I saw Ready Player One) but it’s enjoyable in a disposable sense. I cared more about the Rock/ape relationship than I did the city smashing.
— /Film (@slashfilm) April 5, 2018
Sounds like despite getting its villain wrong, Rampage offered up a fun time at the movies. And when your film prominently involves a giant flying wolf, what more could you ask for?
Rampage soars into theaters on April 13th.
What do you make of these first impressions? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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Featured Image: New Line
