Twisters review: A thrilling sequel that brings the heat

Twisters

(12A), 122mins

★★★☆☆

WE all moan about the weather. But is it interesting enough to be the monster we’re all meant to fear? Sharks? Yes. Dinosaurs? Most definitely. But a badass breeze or terrifying torrential rain could be pushing it. Which is why Twisters, the sequel to 1996 Twister, had the issue of making weather scary and shocking enough so that you scream in your seat. That, and making meteorologists sexy and fun. And I’m happy to say, it gives both a decent go. It begins with a group of students chasing a tornado to see if they can develop a tool to calm down the crazy weather. They include Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Javi (Anthony Ramos). Soon the storm overpowers the geeky bunch who are mostly blown away by its strength. It’s a wild opening to the film and leaves you a little breathless. Fast forward five years and Kate is no longer a thrill-seeking storm chaser, but is working in New York and can barely speak about that terrible day. That is until Javi asks her to come back out on the road again, as he has some new gadgets he needs to test out to stop killer storms, apparently. At first she says no, but then quickly gets over her PTSD and is riding shotgun while driving into tornados with her old pal. But they are not the only ones wanting to get a piece of the action. Smarmy adrenaline junkie Tyler (Glen Powell playing a very similar character to his Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick) is big on the scene. He and his motley crew are the influencers of storm-chasing, filming themselves on live streams being maniacs and letting off fireworks in the middle of twisters. Soon Kate falls for Tyler’s chaotic charm and becomes part of his gang. There are a few-too-many scenes explaining Kate’s science projects and how she thinks that she may be able to calm the storms. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung with the story by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) there’s plenty to enjoy about this big screen bonanza, with wild weather and great stunts included. However, it feels that there is something lacking with the slightly bland characters, storylines that aren’t really tied up and a script missing much humour or romance. A fun enough spin in the cinema, but Mother Nature does not feel like a mean enough monster.

• In cinemas from Wednesday

DESPICABLE ME 4

(U) 94mins

★★★☆☆

If you like to feel like you’ve eaten too many E numbers and downed a can of Monster when watching a film, then you’ll love this fourth instalment. Baddie-turned-goodie Gru (Steve Carell) along with his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig), family – including new baby Gru Jr – and the Minions, are back. This time, the reformed Anti-Villain agent is trying to save the world again in a pretty complicated fashion. His arch nemesis Maxime (Will Ferrell) escapes from a high-security prison while also being half cockroach. So Gru and his family are sent to a remote location and given new identities. He is soon sussed out by the daughter of his new neighbours, who wants to use her knowledge to bribe him. Oh, and his nemesis wants to steal his baby. All of this on a backdrop of Minions leaping about and turning into laser-breathing superheroes. As always the animation is crisp, lively and creatively colourful. And the script is amusing, especially in the hands of so many top comedians. But with so many storylines, it’s hard to recall what you’re meant to be concentrating on. All you can do is enjoy the sugar hit.

FLY ME TO THE MOON

(12A) 131mins

★★★★☆

WHAT this beautifully shot film lacks in accuracy it makes up for in style and cheeky charm. It tells the fictional tale of advertising titan Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) who is employed by one of the president’s workers, Moe (Woody Harrelson), to create a marketing campaign about the Apollo 11 moon landing. Smart and sassy Kelly, who is always immaculately dressed, is sent to NASA where a group of engineers are planning the launch, including Cole Davies (Channing Tatum). Kelly needs to bring Neil Armstrong and co into the American people’s hearts and minds. Like all good advertising execs, she does this through watch campaigns and cereal boxes. While butting heads with Cole, the pair soon have the classic love/hate relationship of the romcom. But Moe is soon pushing Kelly to make the moon landing a televisual feast so she needs to build the event in a film studio – something the conspiracy theorists will love. But ignoring the glaring problem that some of it is accurate and some fiction, this pretty and charismatic film – with a superb performance by Johansson – is a fun and feisty treat.