Rampage Review: 6 Ups & 5 Downs

4. The Pacing Isn't Great

Rampage Dwayne Johnson Naomie Harris
Warner Bros.

This isn't a long film by any stretch of the imagination, but considering how aggressively it was sold on the allure of three giant animals beating the cack out of each other, it's surprising just how long it takes for this to happen.

The first two acts of the film actually keep the creatures separate from one another, heading out on their own excursions in isolation, before coming together for the - admittedly fantastic - finale.

Even with a mere 107 minute runtime, however, many will be left impatient waiting for the big-scale destruction to kick off, because the film takes its time moving everything in place, perhaps in order to keep the budget south of the $150 million mark (it ended up costing a sensible $120 million).

Basically, there's too much talking and not enough smashing in this film, and it'll often stop to subject the audience to exposition dumps right as the action appears to ramp up, killing the momentum dead.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.