Lee Isaac Chung’s sequel to 1996’s Twister is precisely what you’d expect from a second installment. With a few tweaks, this movie delivers more of the same popcorn cinema that either thrilled or disappointed audiences. I enjoyed Jan De Bont’s first installment because of what it is- pure spectacle with little depth and no foothold in reality. And that’s perfectly fine! This flick is the kind of movie meant to be an audio/visual thrill ride with heart-pounding sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat.
And I had a great time this time, as I did with the first film. This standalone sequel has no direct ties to its predecessor. This revelation may be a minor spoiler but do not expect any of the characters to be related in any way to the characters of Twister. And that is fine. The fact that the characters in Twisters have a shared passion/obsession with the protagonists in the first installment is enough.
The movie follows the work of Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a meteorologist and storm chaser whose goal is to tame tornadoes before they wreak the carnage and catastrophes they are known for. As a student, Kate struggles to see her initial project to fruition, and as a result, she steps away from storm chasing for a more comfortable career for the National Weather Service. That is until her former colleague, Javi (Anthony Ramos), reaches out to her to help with his latest project studying tornadoes in Oklahoma with a new high-tech tracking system.
She agrees to assist temporarily, and in doing so, she and her team come across a brash brand of storm chasers, who call themselves “Tornado Wranglers,” led by internet star Tyler Owens (Glenn Powell). Though Kate initially dismisses Tyler and his crew as shameless thrill seekers and opportunists, she eventually discovers they are much more than that.
Written by Joseph Kosinski and Mark L. Smith and directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari), Twisters is a thrilling summer flick. However, like in the first movie, audiences should not expect exact realism and should enjoy the spectacle that it is. This installment plays out in many of the same ways that Twister does. Still, the writers have made enough changes to make this one stand out enough on its own.
When it comes to character development, Twisters doesn’t delve too deep. The character of Kate Cooper could be more dynamic. Daisy Edgar-Jones doesn’t bring anything inspiring to her character in terms of acting. She’s not terrible, but her performance and character could be better, which might leave some viewers wanting more.
On the other hand, even though his character doesn’t have exceptional development on the page, Glenn Powell has the natural ability to make his take on Tyler Owens a lot of fun and very likable. Powell has an outstanding screen presence and natural charisma. He is the genuine human element that kept me invested in this story.
If anyone does not like the first Twister, then I would not recommend Twisters whatsoever. If you do not like Glenn Powell, for whatever reason, then I would not recommend this movie. If you are a fan of both, then I recommend going to your finest theater with the best projection and sound system available because that is how you would best enjoy this rollercoaster ride.