Let’s not get too critical here and accept it for what it is…
SKYSCRAPER is your basic summer action brain candy. No more. No less.
What we’ve got here is fan-favorite Dwayne (‘The Rock’) Johnson playing the part of Will Sawyer, a former FBI hostage team leader and armed forces vet who now makes his living as an international security expert.
Before I go on it’s important to note that due to an unfortunate prior assignment that went bad, Johnson is now operating with one (partial) prosthetic leg—which really comes in handy later in the film.
And he’s got a pretty wife (Neve Campbell) and two darling kids.
His latest assignment takes them all to Hong Kong where he’s hired as a security consultant at the world’s tallest and safest skyscraper known as The Pearl.
It’s a city in the sky!
Which doesn’t stop a crime syndicate from taking control of The Peak by shutting down its safety systems and setting the 220 floor tower into peril.
Almost forgot, they also set the 89th floor (or whatever the number) on fire, way up high.
If that’s not bad enough, Johnson’s family—mom and kids—find themselves trapped ABOVE the fire!
And, and, and….Johnson is being framed and must clear his name.
What would Bruce Willis do?
Well, never fear. Where there’s a will there’s a way and Dwayne Johnson is leading the pack — HIS will be done—no matter how absurd it all plays out.
Brains, brawn and duct tape, anyone?
What IS important here are the optics, and they’re pulled off with visual perfection. I only wish the filmmakers would have made the same efforts when it came to dialogue and acting.
Some of THAT may make you cringe.
And be forewarned, if you suffer from the heartache of fear of heights, some heavily effects-laden scenes could make you dizzy.
But what the heck, check your reality factor at the snack bar and load up on popcorn—preferably with plenty of butter—and let Dwayne Johnson’s spell come over you.
SKYSCRAPER grades a C
Jack Goes To The Movies Friday’s during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.
