Twisters is the AC/DC of action films

Unlike a lot of people (my husband included), I have no particular affection for Twister, the 1996 film about a ragtag group of storm chasers trying to gather enough data about tornadoes to better learn how to prevent them. I admit a lot of my apathy comes from a dislike of Helen Hunt, who got a bit snooty after she became a movie star. (Strong David Caruso energy.) I rewatched it recently, and it’s a perfectly good action film, even if it does treat Jamie Gertz’s character abominably.

My husband wanted to see Twisters in the theater, so I tagged along. I wasn’t expecting much and technically, I didn’t get much. Somewhere between a sequel and a reboot, Twisters lifts beats from Twister wholesale. See if this sounds familiar: a scientist who suffers a personal loss at the hands of a tornado teams up with a motley crew of storm chasers to get the data that will help her learn how to break them up and save lives. It’s not so much an homage as it is a copy/paste. I’m mildly shocked there wasn’t a take on “Rabbit is good, Rabbit is wise” in there somewhere.

So, yeah, Twisters isn’t giving you anything new and that’s its strength. It understands its place in the entertainment universe and it’s not reaching past its grasp. It’s very, very smartly dialed into the exact sweet spot of what it can deliver, and as a result, is a wildly good time.

The band AC/DC is the definition of a one-trick pony. You hear one of their songs and immediately know exactly what you’re going to get: big guitar, gravely vocals, and lyricas about fucking, fighting, or drinking. Maybe all three. They stick to their proven formula so closely that when they lost their original lead singer, they hired someone who sounded so much like him that it’s hard to tell the difference. They do one thing, and they do that thing with exuberant gusto. And if you like that thing, you like them. They are uncomplicated and predictable and quite wonderful.

Please don’t interrupt me here to tell me that they’re really quite talented and nuanced and I don’t know what I’m talking about because their last album really explored new themes. I’m sure you’re right. I don’t care. They’re Tony Stark: The Band, and that’s why they’re great. You know exactly what to expect from them and frankly, we could use a little more of that certainty in the entertainment world.

What’s important to note about AC/DC and Twister(s) is that yes, they do one very predictable thing, but they do it extremely well. You already know the broad strokes of what’s going to happen in Twisters: the tragedy that sets up our weather savant, Kate. The second chance she’s given to crack the code of twisters. The setback that drives her back to the home she’s been avoiding. The heroic moment where she succeeds, saving the people she’s become close to. You know all of this, and it doesn’t matter because the movie is focused on being a fast-paced good time that never asks too much of you while simultaneously giving you enough plot to grab onto. It is thoughtful but not demanding. It gives you exactly the right number of characters to focus on — enough to create an ensemble but no so many that you’re leaning over to ask “who’s that again?” — and even puts the opposing forces in starkly different costumes so you can tell at a glance who’s on which team. It lets Glen Powell be a charming and smart dude and Daisy Edgar-Jones be a smart and charming dudette. It puts the toys on the table and wisely gets the hell out of its own way.

It is, in other words, the perfect summer blockbuster.

Is it a good movie? Depends on what you mean by that. It won’t win any acting or writing awards, that’s for sure. Will you come out of it smiling and happy you spent those couple of hours riding along with the cast? Yeah, I think you likely will.

It’s a hoot. Go see it.