San Andreas

The Rock acts (and is likeable) about as well as Sylvester Stallone in the 1990s, but back then, Stallone wouldn't have acted in a film this silly. One cliché after another, and it relies on amazing the viewer with effects, which are not overwhelming, and pretty soon they get old, and it takes itself almost deadly seriously. Perspective is desperately missing - the comedy string that Roland Emmerich can play so well (I was very entertained by 2012, and it’s not much more sophisticated in terms of the storyline) did not even tremble in San Andreas. Unlike me while watching Alexandra Daddario... (01/05/2019)

San Andreas could be ranked alongside Roland Emmerich's disaster movies like 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow, and it certainly wouldn't put itself to shame. Within its genre, it is a solid piece of work that is average in many ways, but that's the way it goes with films like this. The film is duly laced with action and decent visual effects depicting overwhelming destruction, and as far as the cast is concerned, they are universally likeable. In short, an enjoyable flick that looks good and doesn't require much thought. (03/20/2016)

A great feet-up movie where the main attractions in my eyes aren’t San Fierro blowing up, but Alexandra "look at them wobble" Daddario and her movie mother. The Rock puts on a good performance and the movie certainly doesn’t lack entertainment. The putting the family back together plot line is typically Americana dumb, but suffices for this popcorn piece. (10/29/2016)

A genre routine without a shred of narrative innovation and insight, served exclusively in the company of surprisingly annoying and cluttered digital effects. Where the similarly destructive 2012 had a far more entertaining story, memorable "last-minute" escape scenes, and an air of fatalism about it, San Andreas only has likeable characters – but how can we even root for them when it's clear from the start that nothing can happen to them....? A big disappointment, the muscular physiognomy of Mr Rock and the lush breasts of Ms Daddario in top form definitely deserved much better advertising. 40% (09/10/2015)

Nobody expected a revolutionary cliché-free contribution to the genre, not even from Warner Bros. The same goes for Emmerichian wit and insight. The characters are fine, unlike those in last year’s Into the Storm, and better than those in Poseidon. So, overall it’s an alright movie, a display of decent craft without errors and surprises. (05/26/2015)