“Twisters” appears to be the rare sequel-spinoff that not only chases (and catches) storms and cash but also captures critics’ approval nearly three decades after “Twister” stunned audiences.
Helmed by Oscar-nominated “Minari” writer-director Lee Isaac Chung, the action flick stars Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Normal People”) and Glen Powell (“Anyone But You) as storm chasers competing against each other and nature in their pursuit of twisters in Oklahoma.
A follow-up to 1996’s “Twister,” which starred Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton as a storm-chasing estranged couple, the hotly anticipated blockbuster sequel whirled into theaters Friday and currently boasts a 77% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
“This is one of the few Hollywood movies this year to achieve everything it sets out to do,” said Wall Street Journal.
“It’s the same old tornado twaddle, but the destructive power of weather has never been more timely,” said ABC News.
While multiple critics noted that “Twisters” doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the table, its effects and writing make it an entertaining viewing experience. The Arizona Republic dubs it “a fun ride” and The New York Times says it carries “fun and sometimes funny set pieces and enough danger to keep you on your toes.”
The London Evening Standard praised its “smarter-than-it-seems … writing, action and tightness.” However, others felt that wasn’t enough to warrant the film’s existence.
“Chung has nothing new to offer but a couple nifty combustible CGI tornadoes and reverent twists on the original,” said the Globe and Mail.
Austin Chronicle wrote it off as “heavy handed and stuffed with cardboard characters” — a sentiment echoed by the San Francisco Chronicle, which noted the characters “seem more like constructs than people.”
“Clearly, there was an idea to do a remake, but no second or third idea as to why or how to do it,” the latter outlet bemoaned.
Even those left underwhelmed by the film tended to praise Powell, also known for “Top Gun Maverick” and Netflix’s recent favorite, “Hitman.”
“Everything about Twisters save for Powell feels like a pale imitation of … the original,” said the Austin Chronicle (Powell is a native of the Texas capital city.)
ABC News praised Powell’s “star charisma,” while the Seattle Times noted he was the only part of the film conveying “the enjoyable goofiness of its predecessor.”
“Twisters” racked up a promising $10.7 million in Thursday night previews, while its predecessor opened to $41 million ($82 million today) and closed out its run with nearly $242 million domestic (about $470 million today) and a whopping $494 million globally (about $992 million today).
