In this action-thriller, The Rock tries to save his family after a record-breaking earthquake hits San Francisco.
Ray Gaines (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) is a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter-rescue pilot. Stacked and robust like a rock, no one would think that Ray's world is falling apart.
Emma (Carla Gugino), his wife, wants a divorce. The reason behind their separation was a mystery. But it all seems to stem from the death of their daughter, Mallory.
Anyway, Emma plans to move in with her rich boyfriend, Daniel (Ioan Gruffudd). A decision that their other daughter, Blake (Alexandra Daddario), respects. Though, she always wanted her parents to get back together.
The news shocked Ray. But he worries that he might lose everything once Emma and Daniel finally stayed together.
And alas, it seems like he is about to lose everything indeed. No thanks to the infamous San Andreas fault that decided to throw a huge tantrum that day. Inciting a series of powerful earthquakes across San Francisco
Ray's world is now, literally, falling apart.
When director Brad Peyton directs, there are two things to expect. That is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and a CGI-filled mayhem.
The Rock is always a likable actor. He's been in films where he has little to no chance to shine -- like in the past Fast & Furious movies. He is a versatile action star that has a hard to ignore charisma. And there is no other film to prove that than in "San Andreas".
Though even if The Rock's performance is a joy to watch, the film is an eyesore for all the CGI.
The effects are incredible, to be honest. The falling skyscrapers and large tsunamis are both crazy and staggering. But it gets tiring and boring eventually.
Plus this reliance on spectacle over story hurts the film's appeal. Yes, there is chaos and it's fun. But is the audience supposed to feel sorry about it?
The movie jumps too early to the disaster without connecting to the viewers first. People care about The Rock because when he's not in uniform, he's an average guy. But to Blake or Emma, there is not enough information to care about them. Especially towards the city of San Francisco. The film treats place like a disposable character. When in fact, it should be the one that matters the most since it is the home of many people.
There are also times that it feels like the film forgot that this is still a family drama. The point of this film is to tell Ray's story. Like how he has come into terms with the death of Mallory. And how he was able to reconnect with his wife and daughter amidst his inner turmoil. All the disasters that happen are plot devices. They served as instigators for Ray to change.
Yet, "San Andreas" feels like it doesn't care about Ray's story. Like most disaster films, it is so absorbed in the extravaganza and the sceneries.
"San Andreas" is a film designed for those who love CGI mayhem. It might not work as a family drama. But in many ways, it was a fun popcorn movie.
2/5
