I never thought I'd use the adjectives cute and sweet to refer to a movie about tornados, but both those words are apt to describe Twisters. Nor would I have had any interest in a Hollywood storm disaster flick, but the positive word of mouth from people whose opinion on movies I generally trust drew me in, and I am so glad I gave Twisters a chance, for several reasons.
To begin, Twisters has a strong female lead who is genuine and believable. The current Hollywood trend favors the Mary Sue, a heroine who is absolutely perfect, who makes no mistakes, doesn't need to learn or grow, who is liked by everyone, and can show more seasoned and more experienced characters how inadequate they are. Mary Sues have no character arc and are simply boring.
But not so with Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones). She is intelligent, courageous, and eminently likable. But she is by no means perfect. Her mistakes at the beginning of the story have tragic consequences, which torment her greatly. She needs to learn and grow if she is to be whole again.
The process of her healing also bucks a current Hollywood trope, in which female characters always best the males in the story and succeed at their expense. After some initial hesitation, Kate works together with the male lead, Tyler (Glen Powell), helping and supporting each other. They both make mistakes and have great ideas. While Kate's vision is definitely the driving force, her collaboration with Tyler is key to the unfolding of the story.
What is more, Kate accepts help and advice from her mom, which flies in the face of the Hollywood custom of demonizing or ridiculing parents or any figures who would impart the wisdom of the elders to the younger generation. Her mom's helping role is pivotal in the story and serves to reinforce rather than overshadow Kate's ingenuity. After many years of Hollywood's all-out assault on the family, the positive dynamic between mother and daughter is heartening to see.
Twisters also focuses on some other deeper themes, such as self-sacrifice, putting the needs of others before our own, and the fight against the cynical exploitation of the misfortune of others. The movie strikes a good balance between showing the devastation caused by tornadoes and offering a sense of hope as well. We are shown how the threat of disasters can bring the best out of people, rather than selfish jockeying for survival at the expense of others.
In addition to the positive themes, Twisters also has good production value. The special effects are well done and are convincing. The movie is well paced, giving the audience time to recover in between the high energy action sequences. The acting is great all around, fleshing out each character, making us invested in their lives. The atmosphere is serious and somber at this times but also light-hearted and fun, with some good humor.
Twisters is an unexpectedly good summer flick, with qualities that will keep audiences coming back long after the movie has swept through theaters. Above all, Twisters provides a glimmer of hope in the face of the dark clouds of American cinema. After we have witnessed so many examples of the failure of woke storytelling, Twisters is a ray of sunshine in the storm. So kick back and enjoy this surprisingly endearing disaster drama, and as you do, buckle up Dorothy, because the Hollywood of the last ten years is going bye-bye - at least for the 2 hours and 2 minutes of this cute, uplifting film.
Photo Credit: Promotional photos for Twisters.