Twisters

Heading into the 2024 film landscape, I knew two things: Dune: Part Two was only a few months away… and Twisters was on the horizon. Two trailers, one fun press tour, and tons of buzz later, I finally laid eyes upon Lee Isaac Chung’s newest film at an early critic screening. Sadly, I was massively let down by it.

The first warning sign for me was Twisters’s VERY rough cold open. The dialogue was horrendous, the chemistry was stiff, and the VFX looked fairly wonky. If the rest of the film had kept that same tone, it would have been a grueling experience. Thankfully, once the film introduces Tyler Owens, it has a major uptick in quality. 

In fact, one of the standout achievements of Twisters is the casting of Glen Powell as Tyler Owens. From his very first scene and to every second of screentime we are blessed with his presence in, he injects the movie with this infectious energy and liveliness that is greatly appreciated. Despite the opening's awkwardness, once the new tornado wranglers are introduced, the ensemble cast elevates the film from average to quite entertaining. These characters fit perfectly into this setting, adding comedy, stakes, and heart. Twisters is a rare blockbuster that gives more focus to its characters than to the action itself. Spending time with these characters was a highlight, even though their arcs felt somewhat predictable and lacked depth (especially those of Anthony Ramos’s Javi and Daisy Edgar-Jones’s Kate). Ramos as always adds humor and positivity to his role, but Javi gets sidelined after a certain point, losing momentum as the focus shifts solely to Kate. She does her best, but while the film gives you a lot of time to connect with Kate and feel her tragedy, you always feel at arm's length from her story. I wish we were able to know more about how Kate dealt with her trauma from the cold open.

That being said, I imagine that most people showing up to Twisters aren’t primarily looking for fleshed-out characterization in this film; they’re looking for a fun, exhilerating time. And to be fair, the set pieces are impressively executed, offering visually thrilling moments that keep you on the edge of your seat! There are multiple chase sequences involving both groups of tornado seekers that will have audiences riveted. However, the film doesn't quite deliver on the cooler, more intense atmosphere promised by the trailer. The Super Bowl trailer had so much energy, edge, and even fear, which I longed for most of the film.

Overall, while Twisters didn't live up to my high expectations, I found myself enjoying it for its fun cast, seat-gripping thrills, and Powell’s undeniable charm. I am especially eager to watch it again to experience the immersive sound mix in Dolby. While the film may have its flaws, there's an undeniable charm in its chase.

6/10