Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber, Legendary and Universal Pictures, M 102 Minutes.
After stopping rampant animals in ‘Rampage’ popular action star Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) returns to scale the heights of the world’s tallest skyscraper as Will Sawyer, a former FBI agent turned safety and security consultant attempting to avert a disaster.
It is 10 years since Will survived an ill-fated hostage drama, having his life saved by Sarah (Neve Campbell –‘Walter’), a surgeon who later marries him but now he has to wear a prosthetic for the loss of his left leg.
Will is set to begin a new life in Hong Kong with his family after being recommended to safeguard the Pearl skyscraper by his best buddy Ben (Pablo Schreiber –’13 Hours’) after meeting with head-honcho, Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han –‘Contagion’).
But buddies soon turn into enemies as Will finds out following the outbreak of a fire on the 96th floor of the 220 storey building (triggered by terrorists entering through the basement) which traps his wife and two children.
With the tablet holding the building’s coordinated computer systems in the terrorists’ hands – especially the anti-fire measures – it is left to Will to ascend the Pearl’s supreme structure from street level while avoiding the authorities and eliminating enemy elements.
As the fire slowly begins to engulf the entire building it takes some drastic measures, in fact a superhuman effort from Will, that includes hurling himself across a spatial divide in order to finally save his family.
Despite comparisons being made to similar themed movies as ‘Die Hard’ and The Towering Inferno’, Thurber has directed an entertaining thriller incorporating some stunning action scenes which may appear far-fetched at times unless carried out by The Rock.
Apart from Johnson’s appealing performance, it is pleasing to see the charming Campbell returning as an action star after appearing in the ‘Scream’ franchise a few years back, combining with Johnson in what is essentially an enjoyable experience.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
