[yasr_overall_rating]
Jake Pentecost, son of Stacker Pentecost, reunites with Mako Mori to lead a new generation of Jaeger pilots, including rival Lambert and 15-year-old hacker Amara, against a new Kaiju threat.
I vaguely remember the first “Pacific Rim” from way back in 2013. Perhaps because it was directed by Guillermo del Toro or perhaps on its own merits – and almost certainly a bit of both – I remember being favorably disposed toward the film. In this second outing, produced by del Toro, but directed and co-written by Steven S. DeKnight – up until now of TV fame – the saga has already grown tired and hackneyed.
In trying to come up with a way to describe the film in a shorthand manner, the best I could seem to do was as sort of a Power Rangers on steroids. Many movies have taken a crack at action-oriented, technology vs. alien themes and done a better job. Even the most mediocre of special effects-laden science fiction from the cinema archive comport better – and less expensively at that, with “Uprising” costing an estimated $150 million to produce. Two entries that come immediately to mind are “Skyline” and “The Darkest Hour” that were made for $10 and $30 million, respectively.
While the writers take a stab at original dialog, far too much of it falls into the category of weary cliché. The visuals aren’t a whole lot better. Certainly, the special effects themselves are impressive from a technical perspective, but at least one scene could have come straight out of a Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots commercial from days gone by.
During the screening, I actually found myself wondering how many skyscrapers can a Jaeger, alien-commandeered drone or Kaiju destroy, either by design or by accident? Really more of a philosophical question – as Bob Dylan might say, the answer is blowing in the wind.The casting of “Uprising” is a mixed bag. John Boyega in the lead as Jake Pentecost performs adequately but is no Stacker Pentecost (Jake’s dad), formidably played in the original by Idris Elba. Charlie Day as Dr. Newton Geiszler and especially Burn Gorman as Herman Gottlieb are both just a little too earnest, as if having chugged down multiple expressos before appearing in each scene. To be fair, however, their manic bon mots may play well for the presumed target audience of adolescents and like-minded adults.
Some of the bright spots include Scott Eastwood, who certainly has the aura of his father – at times sounding and looking like a very credible, younger version of the screen legend. Cailee Spaeny as Amara Namani is an energizing presence that provides a welcome spark to this endeavor. We will certainly see her in the future, as she has several upcoming projects in various stages of production.
Overall, however, there is too little plot and too much mind-numbing – if not mind-atrophying – wreckage. Disappointingly, the writers make numerous attempts at witty discourse, but too often fail to hit their target. Simply put, time and again, the pervasive, recycled bromides fail to entertain, edify or inspire.
One final caveat – clearly the screening audience thought more of the film than I did, as they could not suppress their clapping at the end – the applause interrupted only because of the set-up for the next sequel, which the filmmakers obviously have planned. If so, perhaps del Toro will be persuaded to retake the director’s chair in order to make the shape of “Pacific Rim: Downsizing” – or whatever the heck it’s going to be called – into something more original than this.
In theaters Friday, March 23rd
