Dwayne Johnson's box office power is undeniable. Not only has The Rock provided a much-needed boost to dwindling franchises in featured supporting roles (think Fast Five or G.I. Joe: Retaliation), but he has also turned into THE action star of the modern era. With a wide range of disaster movies, comedies, and straight-up action vehicles, the former wrestler (and possible presidential candidate) is one of the last movie stars of modern Hollywood, able to attract audiences by simple having his name on the poster. In the last 6 months alone, he turned Rampage into a solid global hit ($407.6 million) and led Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle to nearly $1 billion worldwide during the most competitive movie-going season. Basically, here's a simple rule for you: never doubt The Rock. His next project is Skyscraper, which very much feels like his own personal Die Hard riff. Earlier today, Universal released the second trailer- check it out below!
What's the best way to describe Skyscraper? Totally ludicrous? Completely preposterous? Utterly illogical?
Honestly, all three labels apply- and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been lukewarm on the idea of Skyscraper thus far, mostly because the earlier trailers seemed to preview a rather generic action thriller. It basically looks like a glossy remake of Die Hard, and I'm sure mileage will vary for many
fans. But Johnson has a proven track record of turning dumb concepts into fun movies, and this trailer has a bit more of a kick to it. Don't get me wrong, Skyscraper looks spectacularly, almost unfathomably stupid, to the point that I think it'll be hard to take this movie seriously. I mean, come on- the guy climbs a crane and then jumps at least 100 feet into a window. It's insane. But if anyone can pull this kind of madness off with a straight face, it's The Rock. This is the first major action movie for director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, Dodgeball), so it'll be interesting to see how he shifts from goofy comedies to the big-budget arena. Nonetheless, the action scenes look crisp and engaging, the visuals are solid enough, and the heart of the movie seems to be in the right place. I wasn't all that enthused before, but The Rock may have just won me over yet again.
Skyscraper will arrive in theaters on July 13.
Poster courtesy of Universal Pictures
What's the best way to describe Skyscraper? Totally ludicrous? Completely preposterous? Utterly illogical?
Honestly, all three labels apply- and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been lukewarm on the idea of Skyscraper thus far, mostly because the earlier trailers seemed to preview a rather generic action thriller. It basically looks like a glossy remake of Die Hard, and I'm sure mileage will vary for many
fans. But Johnson has a proven track record of turning dumb concepts into fun movies, and this trailer has a bit more of a kick to it. Don't get me wrong, Skyscraper looks spectacularly, almost unfathomably stupid, to the point that I think it'll be hard to take this movie seriously. I mean, come on- the guy climbs a crane and then jumps at least 100 feet into a window. It's insane. But if anyone can pull this kind of madness off with a straight face, it's The Rock. This is the first major action movie for director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, Dodgeball), so it'll be interesting to see how he shifts from goofy comedies to the big-budget arena. Nonetheless, the action scenes look crisp and engaging, the visuals are solid enough, and the heart of the movie seems to be in the right place. I wasn't all that enthused before, but The Rock may have just won me over yet again.
Skyscraper will arrive in theaters on July 13.
Poster courtesy of Universal Pictures
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