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Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
Lee Isaac Chung’s Twisters follows former storm chaser Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), drawn back into the world of storm chasing by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos). Javi promises a way to revolutionize their understanding of tornadoes. Along the way, they meet YouTube star and famous storm chaster, Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), and his rag-tag group of chasers. Directed by Chung with a screenplay from Mark L. Smith and based on a story Joseph Kosinski, Twisters is a near-perfect example of the classic summer blockbuster.
This review of Twisters will contain spoilers.
Irresistible Leads
In terms of the film’s leads, Edgar-Jones and Powell, with their romance aside, the former lead actor has the most to do. Kate is back in Oklahoma, storm chasing after the death of her previous team five years prior. Twisters is a story of trauma recovery for Kate. The actor has a look that makes you instantly want to root for her as Kate. Is the science behind her plan to stop tornadoes nonsense? Yes, perhaps, but Jones plays it so well with such earnestness that suspending your disbelief is not something you need to put any effort into. I was fully invested in her journey to recovery and self-forgiveness.
Opposite her is the man of the hour, Glen Powell as Tyler Owens. As usual, Powell just oozes charisma anytime that he is on screen. You cannot help but take a liking to Tyler from his first frame on screen, and every second you spend with him just ropes the audience so much more into his orbit. Frankly, I do not see how this movie would work without Powell at the helm. Edgar-Jones and Powell together are just one of the best on-screen pairings in recent years, really only comparable to Powell and Adria Jones in Richard Linklater’s Hitman.
Romancing the Storm
The key component to this film’s success is the “will-they-won’t-they” pull between the two lead characters, Kate and Tyler. Jones and Powell have fantastic chemistry, and it is obvious from the beginning to the end. Every scene they share is a delight to watch. They go from two people who do not respect each other to stealing glances throughout the film, and I wanted them to get together so damn bad.
They may be opposites in ways. For example, Kate is more risk averse—though how risk averse a storm chaser can actually be is questionable. Meanwhile, Tyler is more of a cowboy, willing to do anything for his videos. Yet, the two are perfectly made for each other. They both share a natural affinity with storm chasing, not just for the thrill but for the science behind it all. Not to mention they have an almost uncanny ability to determine when and where tornadoes will form. As electric as they are together, the ending to their romantic journey leaves something to be desired. Why they do not kiss at the end is curious.
The movie is full of romantic tension for these two characters, and not having a kiss is such a disappointing ending. Sure it would be cliché, but clichées can be utilized well in some ways. The ending works fine enough, and it is sufficiently clear that they end up together. However, for a movie so committed to the classic blockbuster spectacle, not having that classic kiss at the end can come off as a misfire.
Colorful Characters
Of course, Jones and Powell are not the only on-screen talent. They have got a whole host of supporting characters that make Twisters a fun romp. Perhaps most notable is Boone (Brandon Perea), Tyler’s right-hand man. Perea gives Boone an almost feral enthusiasm for the storm chasers. Lily (Sasha Lane) is another standout of Tyler’s crew—a drone pilot capturing aerial footage of the tornados and just fun to watch. Tagging along with Tyler’s crew is Ben (Harry Hadden-Paton), a journalist writing a story on them. He is mostly there as an audience surrogate to explain how the titular twisters work. Regardless, he is charming in how unprepared for the chaos and carnage he appears. Like the tornadoes, Tyler’s whole crew is seemingly chaotic and dangerous, but there is beauty and fun to them as well.
On the other side of the equation is Javi, who used to chase storms with Kate and is getting back into business as a more corporate entity. Joining him is Scott (David Corenswet), Javi’s business associate and the film’s primary human antagonist. Scott is a pretty one-dimensional character, but Corenswet makes him suitably hateable and easy to root against. When he ultimately gets left in the mud by Javi, you cannot help but cheer.
The Eye of the Twister
As great as the romance and characters are, what this movie truly thrives on is epic storm-chasing scenes. Twisters delivers those in spades. There is a healthy number of tornado-chasing scenes, and each one is pulse-pounding. From the opening scene to the climax, it is all intense without being tiring. Particularly, the climax is one of the best of the year. While seated in a theater, it pulls the audience even further into the action. The framing of the tornado itself as a spectacle within the screen is one of my favorite visuals of the year.
Chung keeps all the storm-chasing scenes hectic and frantic, as they should be, but never once does one feel lost in what’s happening. It is all easy to follow, which helps keep you invested and not bored. The great sound design also creates a sense of being literally in the storm. Of course, none of this would be half as interesting if Chung had taken the time to create such likable characters.
While there is plenty of spectacle, the movie takes time to focus on the aftermath. After recent disaster-type films that don’t worry about the aftermath and human impact of such disasters, e.g. Godzilla X Kong, it is nice to see Twisters take time to show empathy with those affected by these events. Empathy is a core facet of this movie. Kate and Tyler’s team take time to assist those whose homes and lives have been ruined by the tornadoes.
Final Thoughts of Twisters
Twisters delivers a fun throwback to pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters, with two lovable leads, their near-perfect romance, and a truly intense spectacle. It is the way to spend time in theaters this summer.
Score: 4/5 stars
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Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.