Kong: Skull Island would make an interesting case study for
anyone interested in making a good movie the wrong way. Much to the chagrin of
this reviewer's monster movie-loving heart, this film has a lot of problems.
Despite this sad reality, however, Kong: Skull Island still manages to dish out
enough of what it promises (namely ungodly havoc at the unnaturally large paws
of the largest primate ever put to film) for a good time at the theater.
Whether you enjoyed Gareth Edwards' 2014 Godzilla reboot or
not, many criticized it for a severe lack of the scaly antihero. Judging from
the trailers for 'Kong,' you would think Legendary and Warner Bros. had learned
a thing or two. Unfortunately, Kong: Skull Island boasts only a bit more screen
time for its own titular behemoth. To be fair, Kong's excellently choreographed
throw-downs are the best parts of the film. They're exhilarating. They're just
too sporadically spaced out between the dull human melodrama.
The hollow script (co-written by Nightcrawler's Dan Gilroy,
I'll have you know) does not allow its stranded characters (I use the term
loosely) time to develop outside their ninety second introductions and none of
them are given any arcs, none with a satisfying payoff anyways. This is all
the more disappointing when you consider how well its superstar cast does with
so little to go off. Alas, we are left to imagine what they could have accomplished
with richer material.
On that note, it would be a miss if I did not mention John
C. Reilly, who plays an Air Force vet who has been living on the island for
almost three decades after crash landing there during WWII. Despite this
nightmarish scenario, he perfectly embodies the film's tongue-in-cheek sense of
humor. While most jokes fall flat throughout, Reilly, much like his humongous
humanoid co-star, is a constant source of unabashed enjoyment.
Even in the face of its mounting imperfections, this
unabashed enjoyment ultimately rises to the surface. Whether you're jumping in
your seat from the intensity of the monster mayhem, busting a gut at one of
Reilly's self-referential jokes, or bobbing your head to any of the kick-ass 70s
rock selections, Kong: Skull Island succeeds in being what it is: a fun monster
romp.
Grade: B
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