"Nobody goes to see a
Godzilla movie for the human characters!"
You're going to see this (or something similar) expressed a lot whenever the major problems with
Godzilla: King of the Monsters are brought up, and while it may well be true, what you go to a movie for and what you end up getting are very different things.
One of the main criticisms of Gareth Edwards' 2014 reboot was that the titular beast himself was barely featured, and, to be fair to Mike Dougherty's sequel, there is much more monster action. Unfortunately, whenever the focus shifts to any of the numerous human characters - and they also get a
lot of screen time - the drama falls completely flat and tedium sets in.
The cast does its best (if there's a standout, it's Vera Farmiga), but the script is so rife with cliches, exposition, and eye-rolling attempts at humor that there's no room for anyone to shine. Several main characters also make some bafflingly stupid decisions which rob any potential dramatic moments of their power.
On the plus side, when the titans do clash there is some of fun to be had, and seeing Big G, Ghidorah, Rodan and Mothra throw down is certainly not without spectacle. The final fight involving all four behemoths, in particular, is brilliantly visualized and should make kaiju fans very happy.
There are some stunning visuals and the monster mayhem doesn't disappoint, but is a half-decent script and some emotional investment to accompany the action too much to ask for? If you're happy to sit through scene after scene of utter nonsense to get to the next sequence with giant CGI creatures biting each other then Godzilla: King of the Monsters may be for you, but everyone else be warned: this sequel is a colossal slog.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.