Godzilla vs Kong

 3/4

Starring: Rebecca Hall, Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, Kaylee Hottle, Demian Bichir, Kyle Chandler, Julian Dennison, Brian Tyree Henry

Rated PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Creature Violence/Destruction and Brief Language

In many ways, "Godzilla vs Kong" is the typical summer action movie.  It's loud, has a lot of stuff getting blown up real good, and is a bit dumb.  Brain power is not necessary for this movie.  But at the same time, the actors are appealing and the action is filmed with a certain degree of panache by director Adam Wingard.

The film tells two storylines.  I suppose they would have more meaning if I remembered much from its predecessors, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and "Kong: Skull Island," but I don't.  Godzilla, once revered as a hero, is now a villain after attacking a facility in Miami.  Madison Russell, daughter of Titan scientist (played by Vera Farmiga previously), believes that there is more to the story, and sets out to find a conspiracy nut she follows (Henry) to prove it. Also convinced there is more going on is a discredited scientist named Nathan Lind (Skarsgard), who believes that King Kong and Godzilla came from the center of the Earth.  One of the few people who believes him is a business magnate named Walter Simmons (Bichir).  Apparently there is a power source in the center of the world that can stop the mayhem, and they need Kong, who is looked after by Ilene Andrews (Hall), to guide them there.

Or something like that.  The story doesn't always make a lot of sense, but I enjoyed it as far as it went because the cast is so committed and enthusiastic.  Rebecca Hall and Alexander Skarsgard are good actors, and they don't sleepwalk through the film to an easy paycheck.  Demian Bichir seems to be having a blast.  And Millie Bobby Brown is lively and energetic.  Special mention has to go to young Kaylee Hottle as Ilene's surrogate daughter Jia, who is adorable.

Director Adam Wingard doesn't take the easy road and throw special effects on the screen in huge gobs.  He tells a story.  It's formulaic and totally preposterous (neither of which should be a surprise to anyone), but it is reasonably involving.  It held my interest, which is something of a rarity these days in an action movie.

The action scenes are a lot of fun.  Watching Kong and Godzilla beat the crap out of each other made me giggle with joy because it was actually possible to follow the action.  Wingard doesn't resort to rapid cutting and shaking the camera.  Both monsters take their lumps and are always down for a rematch.  But I have to wonder about the intelligence of the people in this movie.  Or at least the extras.  Honestly, if I saw Godzilla coming, I'd get the hell out of dodge.  And I certainly wouldn't stay in a skyscraper that Kong could destroy with one of his fists.

Such questions are not for this movie to answer.  It's best seen on as big of a screen as possible with a jumbo popcorn and a big soda.  On that level, the movie works.

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