Pacific Rim: Uprising

Image via IMDB

     Pacific Rim: Uprising is directed by Steven S. Knight (Daredevil) and stars John Boyega (The Force Awakens), Cailee Spaeny, and Scott Eastwood (The Fate of the Furious). It picks up 10 years after the original, this time focusing on Stacker Pentecost's son, Jake, as the Kaiju threat emerges after all assumed they were merely a thing of the past.
     The original Pacific Rim was a fun, enjoyable movie that I remember almost nothing about. When I heard a sequel had come out, I knew I would get around to seeing it but had no desire to rewatch the original. One of the major problems with this sequel is that I think many people have nostalgic feelings for the original, when in reality it is a pretty standard action film.
     The best part of the movie is the action sequences. It made some innovative choices that I did not see coming. The opening chase scene was fun and quickly reintroduced us to the world of Yaegers. The attention to detail on the Yaegers' suits impressively showcased a wide range of different alien killing machines.
     The performances, for the most part, were underwhelming. Boyega has always felt a bit overrated in my opinion but still has some decent emotional moments. If Scott Eastwood never acted in another movie, I would be a happy person. His timing never feels right and that goes far beyond just this movie. The best performance was from Cailee Spaeny, who made her big screen debut. Her character could have been the annoying kid role, but she made choices that set her apart from the rest of the cast.
     The biggest problem with the movie are the awful attempts at comedy. One liner after one liner falls flat and makes you question why they paid somebody to sit down and write this movie. While the climax is fun, the exact machinations of what is happening makes you scratch your head and wonder "Is this even possible?" A question probably best left unasked throughout this runtime.
     Overall, I am not exactly sure when the first film suddenly became high art. I always viewed it as disposable blockbuster fun and this movie is just as expendable. This best way to watch this is with your mind turned off and a big bowl of popcorn.

When should you see it?
Redbox

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