As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I always looked forward to seeing the latest summer blockbusters. Before the MCU and the DCU, the summer movie season was filled with big-screen spectacles, giving audiences a wide variety of popcorn flicks to choose from. In 1996, Twister opened in theaters and became one of the year’s biggest films. The movie was a ton of fun to watch, while it also scared the crap out of moviegoers all over the world. Surprisingly, a sequel has taken 28 years, but I am happy to report that this is one of those rare times where it is well worth the wait.
Twisters stars Daisy Edgar Jones as Kate Cooper, a young woman whose childhood studying storms inspired her to become a storm chaser. However, after a devastating accident, Kate switches gears until Javi (Anthony Ramos), one of her friends and colleagues, begins working for a company with a groundbreaking new tracking system. With the help of Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), Kate and Javi embark on the next chapter of storm chasing, hoping to save lives in the process.
We are just about halfway through 2024, and there have only been a handful of films so far that have lived up to the hype, and thankfully, Twisters is one of them. I think Twisters is one of the year’s best films, and no, I am not joking. There is something to be said about a blockbuster that manages to make you feel a wide range of emotions when watching it. Twisters has a little bit of everything. There is action, romance, thrills, fun, cheese, and even some heart. It is the perfect blockbuster because it delivers everything that one wants from the big-screen spectacle. And yes, it is a big-screen movie and probably one to experience in 4DX if you can stomach it.
See Also: ‘Hit Man’ Review: Point Blank Fake
Mark L. Smith’s script is more substantial than your typical summer blockbuster, and what surprised me the most about it was that it gave the viewer a reason to care about the characters and their actions. My biggest issue with so many blockbusters is that you rarely care about something other than the spectacle. With this one, the audience gets to know the main cast and understand why they do what they do. I was shocked by how well-rounded the Tyler Owens character was because the character does a complete 180 about halfway through the film.
Kate is the heart and soul of Twisters, and Daisy-Edgar Jones nails the performance. Her character is super likable and easy to root for, and she sells the whole meteorologist persona. We have all seen those bad Hollywood blockbusters where they cast an attractive actor or actress to play a role like a scientist, and it just doesn’t work. Jones completely embodies the character, making her feel authentic and relatable.
Glen Powell continues to showcase that he is a movie star with a capital M. Powell is so charming and charismatic even when his character Tyler comes across as this know-it-all smartass. We can all agree that Powell is a good-looking man, but what makes him stand out is just how likable he is. He’s that rare actor that you can’t help but fall in love with. He’s got that “it” factor, and so far, I have seen him play such a wide variety of characters, and he has nailed every single one. Some feel that his performance in Top Gun: Maverick put him on the map, but between his work in Hit Man and Twisters, Powell is destined to become the most sought-after actor in Hollywood. His career is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, and Sasha Lane round out the cast. They play supporting characters to Tyler and Kate. Ramos and Jones work well together, and Javi adds some depth to the plot. Perea and Lane may come across to some as a bit over the top, but I enjoyed their performances. They felt like those 90s sidekick characters—zany and a little crazy. They looked like they had so much fun participating in this project.
This brings me to Lee Issac Chung – the glue that holds this whole thing together. His directorial debut, Minari, was an excellent indie, but it couldn’t be any more different than Twisters. I’m not going to lie; I was a bit nervous when it was announced that Chung was directing the film, not because he isn’t a gifted filmmaker but because the project is so wildly different from what he did previously. We have seen several indie directors try to tackle big blockbusters and fail. Chung’s skill set as a filmmaker and storyteller helped elevate the film, making it surprisingly better than the original in almost every way. Chung perfectly balanced intense tornado scenes with cheesy 90s fun while creating genuine moments of humanity and heart.
Twisters is the film to beat this summer, and with the possible exception of Deadpool and Wolverine, I highly doubt anything will come close to topping it. Twisters will likely become a massive hit at the box office as the film has worldwide appeal. It is the kind of summertime fun we rarely see anymore from big Hollywood studios, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Twisters becomes one of the year’s biggest hits. So, do yourself a favor, grab some friends, order the biggest popcorn, and have an absolute blast!
Twisters opens in theaters and IMAX on July 19, 2024.
