*This review originally appeared on our sister website, Awards Radar
I don’t have the reverence for Twister that many seem to. Now, I have no ill regard or anything like that. In fact, I actually just never think about the film. So, for those of you that do, more power to you all. It just means that Twisters isn’t an event for me, just the next in 2024’s summer movie season. That being said, it’s a very entertaining blockbuster, even if it’s not a particularly original one. It knows the beats to follow and follows them well.
Twisters is, in broad strokes, what we saw once upon a time with Twister. There’s a bit higher stakes, better effects, and one major movie star, but what you got in the 90s you’re getting again here. The film doesn’t shy away from that, either, but rather embraces it. This is big, silly, cinema, in the way summer audiences like it, too.
Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) used to be a talented storm chaser. Then, while out with her team, including her boyfriend Jeb (Daryl McCormack) and Javi (Anthony Ramos) chasing a tornado that can help prove a groundbreaking theory of hers, disaster strikes. Years later, Kate is out of the game, working in New York City, when Javi tracks her down. After a stint in the military, he’s gone to work tracking storms for a high tech company, using new technology that can study tornados like never before. She’s initially resistant to his overtures to join him, but eventually, is willing to give him a week.
Heading to Oklahoma, their first attempt at launching his tech goes poorly. Kate is out of practice, still scarred, and annoyed by the casual storm chasers that litter the landscape now. However, there’s also Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a seemingly reckless social-media superstar who tames storms for his YouTube channel. They butt heads at first, but as she becomes curious about who’s funding Javi’s work, she also sees how Tyler and his team have more to them than meets the eye. When some incredibly dangerous storms hit, the three of them will have to work together not just to achieve their goals, but also to survive.
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell anchor the flick with major charisma. The former was a revelation in Fresh and has been primed for stardom ever since. This is going to do that, as she’s got a screen presence that suggests the A-list. The latter is already there, obviously, and this is the sort of movie star turn that he’s proven to be aces at. Here, he’s having a blast and showcasing the charm that’s going to lead to world domination in short order. Not only that, Powell adds layers to what could have been a shallow role. There’s depth here that he really embraces. The pair have terrific chemistry as well, so once they’re sharing the screen, things really come alive. Anthony Ramos is more fun in the first act, but he’s a steady presence throughout. In addition to an under-used Daryl McCormack, supporting players include Tunde Adebimpe, David Born, David Corenswet, Nik Dodani, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Katy O’Brian, Brandon Perea, Paul Scheer, Kiernan Shipka, Maura Tierney, and more,
Director Lee Isaac Chung makes a big leap up from Minari, scale-wise, and shows a solid feel for blockbusters. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith mostly does the first film again, only bigger, but Chung manages to keep you invested in the characters. Twisters is hardly reinventing the wheel, but Chung knows what works in a big summer movie. Establishing his protagonist early on pays dividends later, while introducing a second lead with additional layering in the third act is a challenge, but Chung and Smith pull it off. The effects are solid and the pacing is largely effective, so even if the film overstays its welcome by a few minutes, much of what we see is incredibly entertaining.
Twisters is a better sequel than you’re expecting, even if it’s closer to a remake. By not overtly going that route, it manages to avoid some unnecessary associations. What we have here is just a big, silly, bit of fun. This kind of dumb in a good way blockbuster is the sort summer entertainment that delights audiences on a hot summer day. With the heat outside, stay cool in a theater with this weather-centric adventure.
JOEY MAGIDSON
Joey is the owner and editor-in-chief of Awards Radar. For nearly a decade and a half, he served as a writer at The Awards Circuit (even back when it was still called The Oscar Igloo). A member of the Critics Choice Association and a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, his work has been quoted on FYC award screeners, in press materials, trailers, and more. Seeing over 300 films a year, he arguably spends more time with movies than anything else (though the Jets and the Mets come close), but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Joey is proud to bring you Awards Radar, with an incredible staff and content you won’t find anywhere else! @JoeyMagidson
Summary
Twisters’ is the Sort of Big Dumb Fun That Movie Stars and Summer Blockbusters Were Invented For