The idea of a sequel to the 1996 film Twister seems a little questionable enough as is, as it has been 28 years since the original. Add in the fact that it is a standalone, with no returning characters or continuing plotlines, and it seems even more confusing as to why this would be made. But we are living in a time where returning to the well of beloved films and properties is yielding generally good results, so I couldn’t help but be slightly optimistic about Twisters, the latest film from acclaimed director Lee Isaac Chung. In fact, Chung’s involvement is one of the things that gave me hope for this film, as I absolutely adored his previous film, Minari. Of course, this film is much different by comparison, as Chung trades heartfelt drama for big-budget spectacle. There is always risk involved when an indie filmmaker like him makes the leap to making blockbusters, but I couldn’t help but feel Chung had what it takes to make a film like Twisters work against all odds. While the film does have its issues, mainly in terms of its plot, Chung delivers some serious spectacle, making a good old-fashioned summer movie that is as fun and thrilling as its predecessor.
Five years after a horrific experience involving a tornado, former storm chaser Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is working in New York City. She is reunited with an old college friend and colleague, Javi (Anthony Ramos) who asks her to join his new team in Oklahoma to help them track tornadoes. Kate is hesitant, but ultimately accepts his offer. Upon arriving in Oklahoma, she meets Javi’s team, as well as another group of storm chasers led by the charismatic Tyler Owens (Glen Powell). Over the course of the week, the two teams clash, but end up fighting for their lives when the storms get more intense, and several tornadoes arrive.
I will admit that I was surprised when I found out that Lee Isaac Chung was going to direct this film, as it is so different from the types of films he has made up until now. Chung has exclusively made smaller dramas, so him taking on a disaster film is a bit of a departure. However, it is clear that he is passionate about Twisters, and relished the opportunity to make a film on a much larger scale. With this film, Chung shows that he has what it takes to make a big-budget film, as he handles the spectacle and scope of the film brilliantly. The big tornado sequences are exciting to watch, and showcase some solid visual effects as well. Chung captures the stakes of the situations the characters are in nicely, and this helps make the storm chasing scenes so effective. These scenes help the film reach the heights of the original, and are a major highlight.
Of course, Chung is a director known for capturing the humanity of his characters, and he makes a noble effort to do so in this film. He isn’t quite as successful, but that is mainly due to the script. There are some moments Chung is trying to wring out some deeper emotions from Kate’s backstory, or some of the scenes between her and Tyler, but these end up being some of the film’s weaker parts. I don’t think Chung is to blame, as he is only trying to add dimension to what is on the page. The script, written by Mark L. Smith, is a decent blockbuster script, but the plot itself is a bit generic and some of the emotional aspects feel a bit forced. This is apparent in two specific areas: one of which is a plot point involving Javi’s company working with a corrupt investor, and the other involving Kate’s tragic backstory. While the latter is well-established from the beginning of the film, there’s not much more development on it, which becomes problematic when we spend a lot of time with Kate reflecting on it in the film’s second act. The former just feels shoehorned in, and could have easily been cut with no consequence to the film as a whole. These both converge about halfway through the film, causing a bit of sag in the middle of it. This section feels a bit tedious, and sticks out considering that the rest of the film on either side of it is so enjoyable. The lack of definition in these specific moments does cause some glaring issues for the film, but thankfully, most of them are strictly limited to this middle section of the film.
But let’s be honest, the main draw for a movie like Twisters is the tornadoes themselves, and it certainly delivers on this front. The best parts of the original, in my opinion, are the tornado sequences and the moments that focus on the core team of storm chasers. I would argue the same is true for this film, as the storm chasing is thrilling, and the new cast of characters are quite fun, especially those in Tyler Owen’s crew. The visual effects used to create the tornadoes are impressive, and the larger sequences are shot rather well. The big storm sequence near the end of the film is especially well-done, as you can feel the danger the characters are in, and the visuals are so striking. It calls to mind the disaster films of yesteryear, albeit through a more modern lens. I was completely glued to the screen during this section, and it is one of my favorite sequences I’ve seen so far this year. The VFX, the production design, and the camerawork come together so beautifully throughout the film, and yields the exact type of big, loud, and exciting filmmaking that you want from a film like this.
As for the cast, the film has a lot to live up to considering how stacked the cast of the original is. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt are so good, as are the supporting cast of beloved character actors that make up the storm chasing team, so this film has some shoes to fill. While I wouldn’t say that Twisters fully recaptures the lightning-in-a-bottle of the original’s cast, it comes awfully close. Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones are a pretty good pair, and the scenes where their characters are getting to know each other are kind of sweet. I wouldn’t say that their chemistry is off the charts or anything, but it still gets the job done. Together, they are quite good, but separately, there is a bit of an imbalance. Edgar-Jones feels a bit bland from time to time, and it doesn’t help that her character already feels a bit one-dimensional on the page. I couldn’t help but want more from her in this role, but she is still decent for the most part. Glen Powell, on the other hand, is as effortlessly charming as ever. As storm chaser Tyler Owens, he is electric, instantly likable, and ends up being a good foil for Edgar-Jones’s Lee. Powell is in full movie star mode here, continuing the hot streak he’s been on as of late. He is a whirlwind of charisma in this film, and he is easily the MVP here.
But that’s not to say that the rest of the cast don’t make an impression, as there are several supporting players that really clicked with me in this film. Brandon Perea, who I enjoyed in Jordan Peele’s Nope, is a big ball of energy, and it is hard not to smile when he shows up on screen. Tunde Adebimpe, better known as the frontman for the band TV on the Radio, steals almost every scene he’s in and gets some good laughs as well. Sasha Lane brings an interesting energy to the film, as does Katy O’Brian, both of whom round out Tyler Owens’s crew so nicely. David Corenswet plays a wet blanket of a character, but does it rather well and makes you hate him. I could go on with some of the other supporting cast members, but I am so happy that the film assembles a great group of actors to play the storm chasers, just like the original did back in 1996.
Twisters is an absolute blast, and will likely delight fans of the original. I would argue that the first one is better by a nose, but this is certainly a worthy follow-up, and is a lot of fun to watch. It checks a lot of the boxes for what big summer blockbusters should be, feeling like a bit of a throwback while still coming across as modern. It may struggle with its emotional details, and it does drag for a bit in the middle, but the rest of the film is so thrilling and enjoyable that it more than makes up for it. It may not be perfect, but it is a solid blockbuster, and makes for a great experience at the movies.
Comments