Cheese and entertainment can be kindred spirits. When combined at the right percentages magical entertainment can be had. Summer has the potential for high quality cheese, or popcorn fare that manage to entertain audiences at some level for two hours. Godzilla: King of the Monsters manages to achieve levels of varying entertainment in the latest incarnation of one of Japan’s most famous exports.
What it gets right
It quickly establishes that these events happen after 2014’s 30th anniversary film, with a pair of scientists who are either vengeful or concerned for humanities existence. They’ve developed a machine that might have the ability to speak to the monsters, but do they really know what their machine is telling them?
The two scientists are credible and not annoying, with the later being a major thing that some disaster/monster get wrong, much like the balance of cheese and entertainment.
If you want monsters you got em
When you see a Godzilla film you expect monsters and Godzilla: King of the Monsters gets the monster pacing down perfectly. After the requisite establishment of why the scientists are doing what they’re doing it’s all monsters all the time, until the humans get in the way.
We quickly get to see Rodan, Gidorah and the big lizard himself very quickly. There are some nice monster battle sequences and the audience that I saw the movie with responded in kind with cheers and claps when Godzilla initially appeared on screen and when he came to rally the troops on subsequent occasions.
The monsters, the cities that they demolish, swim through, set on fire or explode are well executed and make older Godzilla fans easily forget about the cheesy sets that became the hallmark of earlier films.
Bradley Whitford as Dr. Stanton, along with Thomas Middeletch as Sam Coleman were standout actors in their roles. They had enough depth to let us know why they were there, in addition to providing most of film’s lighter or humorous moments.
What it gets wrong
At times the balance of cheese to entertainment is perfect, while at other times it way off balance. Unfortunately most of those times are with Millie Bobby Brown, who is the daughter of said aforementioned scientists. Her part in the movie is weakly flushed out, yet is so heavily depended on for most of the dramatic shift point that it all but stops the film when she enters the screen. It’s not her fault and she’s built up lots of audience good will due to Stranger Things, but this is not the feature film breakthrough that she’s looking for.
The mythos of Godzilla knows who it’s trying to win over and what it’s trying to accomplish. Alas, in this new age of comedy/monster/science-fiction/Universe building film it’s gotten confusing. Is Godzilla an anti-hero of the nuclear age? A hero against people inadvertently helping the bad kaiju? The film tries to throw a curve ball into the mix with an ‘eco-terrorist’ who is set upon setting humanity back the blah, blah, shut up and let the monster fight. That is exactly what you’ll be thinking.
If I hear one more Skull Island reference…..
The first Skull Island (See also: King Kong) reference was cool. The second one was over. By the time the end credits rolled and we see cave images-and about 20 (no exaggeration here) more references to Kong, we get it. There will be a sequel and more monster universe building.
The Bottom Line
It’s mildly entertaining, but we wanted more. If the film had taken a chance and spent more time on the script then audiences would’ve thanked it more. The film also would’ve gotten more cash, earned more goodwill towards Godzilla vs. Kong and been able to push this universe forward. Instead, you’ve got a lukewarm film that will please audiences, but will require much more to push them towards this universe building scheme that they’ve planned.
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