Arriving 28 years after the original that almost shares the same name (“Twister”), “Twisters” was a movie no one asked for or expected, but we’re all the better for it.
“Twisters” surpasses the 1996 movie in almost every way; it bests its predecessor mostly because of modern movie-making technology. It also shares a surprising position on the “climate change” debate. More on that in a bit.
Wasting no time, director Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”) and screenwriter Mark L. Smith—using a story by Joseph Kosinski—get right to the point. Storm chaser Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones, “Where the Crawdads Sing”) and a team of four others are tracking what turns out to be an L5 (the most severe variety) Oklahoma tornado.
Iffy Premise
They’re not doing so for mere thrills, although that does figure into the equation. It’s to attempt to prove a theory (that has no root in actual “science”) that tornadoes can be equalized with a concoction of chemicals sucked up into the vortex at an exact precise moment to absorb water. If the theory is proven, they will receive a lucrative grant from a nonspecific organization.This is the first of several instances where “only in the movies” scenarios make no real scientific sense whatsoever. However, when presented with just the right amount of conviction and spin, they actually appear entirely plausible.
Surprising Realism
The filmmakers deserve bonus points by introducing multiple characters in the first act. They’re instantly appealing, and at least one of them is ripped out of the picture with relative randomness, much like people who die in actual tornadoes. This was a bold and potentially detrimental dramatic move. It gets us to quickly relate to and like characters, and then writers kill them off before the end of the opening salvo.During a clunky transitional scene five years later, Kate is now living in New York, ostensibly building a new life, but still “observing weather.” She is stuck in a boring professional holding pattern.
After a lot of begging and arm-twisting by her former storm chaser cohort Javi (Anthony Ramos), Kate returns home to Oklahoma and “gets back on the horse.” Working in an advisory capacity, she lacks anything resembling motivation until she crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell, “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Hit Man”). A flashy, full-of-himself storm chaser, Tyler leads a band of equally brash thrill seekers.
He believes that his strong YouTube presence, thousand-watt smile, two-day stubble, and cowboy branding (he hawks tacky T-shirts featuring his comic mug to adoring fans) is enough to impress Kate. Yet she reacts with feigned indifference. This, of course, tells us they will eventually become an item. Those craving a strong romantic subplot have something interesting to watch in between the eye-popping action sequences.
Too Much Twang
As is often the case with popcorn fare, the second act of “Twisters” is a tad flabby and somewhat inert. It’s low on tornadoes and overstuffed with thematically connected country and western songs. Individual mileage may vary for viewers. For me, someone who prefers “old school” country (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard), I found this overreliance on generic, interchangeable twangy musical numbers to be irritating and lazy.The filmmakers eventually recover, starting in the third act. A brilliantly clever plot twist completely changes the narrative’s complexion. By this point, Kate and Tyler are on the same professional and personal wavelengths.
Thanks to superb work from veteran cinematographer Dan Mindel and hundreds of special effects pros, Mr. Chung and Mr. Smith save the best for last. The story wraps up with marked closure, yet still leaves the door open for a sequel.
That Climate Change Thing
Not once in this movie or in the 1994 flick are the words “climate change” uttered either directly or by inference. This was a bold choice both then and now for major studio summer tentpole movies. Hollywood has infused practically every movie with not-so-subtle political and social messaging over the last decade. The perceived need for this has grown beyond tiresome and annoying.The majority of people (on both sides of the aisle) watch movies and TV shows to escape and to be entertained. They don’t want to be relentlessly talked down to or be on the receiving end of a finger-wagging lecture.
The “Twister” franchise gives us thrills, chills, a laugh here and there and, yes, hope and optimism. Hopefully, Hollywood will take note and finally get the message that messaging isn’t its forte.
