Catastrophically crumbling into the disaster genre.
Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), The Los Angeles Fire Department search and rescue helicopter pilot, is tasked with disaster rescue after an earthquake hits near the Hoover Dam, destroying it. An even larger series of earthquake shake the entire state of California soon afterwards. Ray is informed his soon to be ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino) is in danger in LA, therefore immediately changes direction in order to save her. In the meantime, Ray’s daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario), is trapped in a car park in San Francisco by her mother’s current boyfriend Daniel (Ioan Gruffudd). Ray and Emma head to San Francisco and will do everything they can in order to save their daughter and those with her.
With several similarities to The Day After Tomorrow, San Andreas is packed full of your typical disaster movie clichés and sticks close to the ground with regards to its conventions. Whether that is a good thing or not, is up to you. But of course, destruction is obviously not enough for such a disaster movie. We are once again presented with a heroic protagonist, who, of course (my feminist side is kicking in) is male…But nonetheless, The Rock makes a charming leading man and does a great job. With those bulging, shiny muscles, he is able to perform things your everyday fireman can’t, such as simple things, like tearing the door off a car. That’s just how ‘The Rock’ rolls. Daddario also does a good job, though her ‘salon quality hair’, which stays immaculate throughout everything that is going on, is somewhat questionable (typical Hollywood for you!). She attempts to survive in San Francisco with her brand new, (who she has only known for that of 10 minutes), love interest Ben (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), and his little brother Ollie (Art Parkinson), who is comedic in a cute child sense. As for Kylie Minogue’s ‘star appearance’…it only lasts a matter of seconds (“she should be so lucky!”). The plot is generic, but not as dreadful as some of the critics are making it out to be – it contains some heartfelt moments and a nice share of scenes that emphasise the strength of humanity, people helping others without having to think twice, for example.
Ultimately, San Andreas is a wake-up call. It doesn’t expand on the disaster genre or incorporate anything fresh, but nevertheless, it is a decent disaster movie. I feel there could have been more build up to the earthquake, and the destruction scenes could have lasted a little longer for more effect. Towards the end, it felt slightly rushed. Regardless of the timing, San Andreas was frightfully realistic and the CGI was certainly up to scratch. And if the whole thing just isn’t your kettle of fish, then Dwayne Johnson may just win you over with his flashy white grin and his enthusiasm to sell this media product, regardless of how run-of-the-mill that product is.
SO MANY DISASTER MOVIE CLICHES. hahaha. I loved how right after the ROCK saved his ex from the building her appearance looked believable, then the next shot she practically had full makeup again! That love interest thing was pretty cute, but kind of bizarre. I made a short blog post about what I thought! Great review 🙂
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I will check out your blog post! And thank you! Haha, yes, exactly – the whole Hollywood hairstyle/makeup thing was so far fetched…But, I agree, the love interest concept was believable to some extent!:-)
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It was cliched but a lot of fun. I really loved it but it has to be watched with your brain left at the door (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing).
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Completely agreed. Nothing new or very groundbreaking (other than the fact that this time the women weren’t damsels) but still enjoyable and a lot better than the drivel you see sometimes in disaster movies.
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Nice review, this film reminds me of the late 90’s when we had plenty of ‘Fun’ disaster films
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Oh yes, definitely! And thanks for reading!
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Nice write-up! When I’m in the mood for these take-your-brain-out disaster epics, I do have the ability to enjoy them.
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Thanks Gareth! Yes, me too. They are a good watch once in a while!
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Solid review! Great to see a different take and so refreshing after all of the mainstream media critics. Fingers crossed there’ll be a disaster movie one day with a female lead 😛 Thanks for checking out and commenting on my review, much appreciated 🙂
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Thank You for taking the time to read this! Yes, great idea – I would definitely look forward to that too! And no worries, any time! 🙂
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I liked it. Even though are main hero was The Rock, you have to admit that mommy and daughter were pretty kick ass, too, so that kind of makes up for it! And who doesn’t really like Dwayne Johnson? (oh I’m sure there’s a lot of people who don’t) I really adored Ollie. He was so cute and loveable and so much better than big bro Ben at chatting up girls.
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