A retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies.

A sequel of sorts to the 1990s hit ‘Twister’, ‘Twisters’ is essentially an update of the premise for the 2020s with the improved technology enabling even better visual effects than the (relatively good from memory) effects from the original movie. It’s been released in the midst of summer with the aim of being this year’s big blockbuster and it follows the formula that is well established by now for these types of movies – big action sequence to begin, one in the middle, and the biggest saved for the end – with the character work secondary.

The plot of the movie surrounds a group of storm chasers who are tracking down tornados in Oklahoma for various reasons. You have Javi (Anthony Ramos), who is working on behalf of a well-funded mobile tornado radar company, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a meteorologist and Javi’s old friend, and then you have loud and brash YouTuber Tyler (Glen Powell), who calls himself the ‘Tornado Wrangler’. Kate’s aims are purely scientific as she has been working on a solution that could diminish the intensity of a tornado, whereas Tyler and Javi’s are more opaque, at least initially. They all gather in Oklahoma alongside their crews and assorted hangers on, which include an irritating British journalist (Harry Hadden-Paton), and will find themselves having to work together as a ’storm of a lifetime’ threatens a small town.

In terms of the positives, ‘Twisters’ is undoubtedly entertaining and never bores, with some terrific set pieces and cheesy fun, which Powell in particular really leans into. The scientific basis surrounding the plot felt borderline plausible to a scientific illiterate such as myself, and the central trio deliver good individual performances which helps to overcome some of the shortcomings in how their characters are written. It is directed by Lee Isaac Chung which is a curious choice given his previous work was the excellently low key character study ‘Minari’ and he struggles to put his stamp on this amidst the effects driven drama. You could also drive a tank through the plot holes and the decision making of the characters, but let’s be honest, you didn’t come to see ‘Twisters’ for brutally realistic action (there are plenty videos online of real ones, filmed by ‘real life’ Tylers, if you are intrigued by that. I’d also argue there’s a limit to how exciting you can make a tornado look, or what damage it can do, which does limit how inventively you can depict one ripping through a town.

‘Twisters’ is good old fashioned escapism and a solid update on a mostly forgotten 1990s hit, and it is clearly resonating strongly with audiences who are coming out in their droves. I’m not quite convinced it’s the master blockbuster some critics are proclaiming, but it did entertain me, even as I suspect like the first film, it won’t linger long in the mind.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Daryl McCormack, Kiernan Shipka, Nik Dodani, David Corenswet, Tunde Adebimpe, Katy O’Brian and David Born

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt12584954/