Glen Powell Saves Twisters From Kicking Up Too Much Dust

In May 1996, Twister opened earning $41.1 million and ranked in the number-one spot at the North American box office. It was a new formula from the disaster films we’ve come to know over the decades like Backdraft, The Poseidon Adventure and The Perfect Storm to name a few. It’s success ultimately made box office stars out of the late Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Now, the franchise is back with fresh, new stars, new storyline and of course, Dorothy.

To be clear, this film is not a sequel to Twister, but a plot where Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar Jones), haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.

There are slight nods to the original. Instead of a love triangle between two guys and a girl, we have two guys being emotionally attached to a girl. The old school storm tracking device, Dorothy, is now on her fifth model, social media and the impact of YouTube/Tik Tok live streaming is an element that keeps the film steeped in the current relevancy of the culture we live in. Instead of a storm tracker girlfriend tagging along, we have a reporter getting deets for his story and or team of tracking misfits are way more diverse than with the other version. Lastly, we see more trauma from Kate than we ever saw in Hunt’s character as both have survived the eye of the storm.

With a few moments of lull here and there, those tornados kicking up will keep the audience engaged with action sequences and solid performances. Glen Powell is on the star trek of a young Tom Cruise or Robert Redford. The film literally comes to life whenever he hits the screen with undeniable charisma and acting chops. Powell and Jones have great chemistry making their romantic dance interesting, but if felt a little too fast too soon for me. Ramos is breaking stereotypical tropes as a scientist owning his own company. I love that Hollywood is beginning to take more chances in this regard – let’s keep it coming!!! Not ot mention, Ramos is a force in a lane of his own.

Yet, all three lead characters are on a journey of self discovery, worth and love in the midst of the madness. Twisters is definitely worth the watch if for nothing else the first storm sequence which is intensely dramatic and powerful. Tornadoes may be nature’s masterpiece, but take from me as someone who has experienced them on two occasions, its beauty turns to fear in a matter of seconds and once it hits your life will never be the same.

Twisters has its moments of lull, but no one can deny when those actions sequences kick up some dust that the thrill ride is in tact.