Now we get to the 21st century, with a movie from just four years ago. You know I’m a wrestling fan but I’m not some Rock “mark”, as the industry would put it, who likes any film of his. I actually hated Skyscraper, as there was no dramatic tension (the only characters in any real peril were the lead, his wife, and his little kids, who of course weren’t going to die) and the movie practically turned supernatural with the absurd features of the building and the stunts The Rock pulled off.
San Andreas is great though. It was much more profitable than its spiritual successor three years later and it deserved it.
As much as we wish the plot could be classified as supernatural, us Californians know the possibility of an earthquake that’s a 9+ on the Richter scale is all too real. In fact, we’re overdue for “The Big One”, as the San Andreas fault hasn’t’ had such a major movement in 380 years – over twice as long a gap as has historically taken place.
Movies can be great for escapism though. We would all love to imagine that a hero like Dwayne Johnson will come save us in these moments of catastrophe.* The seriousness of the situation is well-conveyed by Paul Giamatti as a veteran seismologist, Carla Gugino as the main character’s ex-wife Emma, and some guy in the thankless role of the ex’s weasely new love interest.
Yet the movie’s heart comes from the main character Ray’s attempt to save his daughter Blake. It’s particularly poignant, as Ray and Emma had previously lost their only other child, leading to the dissolution of their marriage. The Rock conveys his emotions beautifully, and Alexandra Daddario is alluring and charismatic while having some of her own agency instead of simply being a damsel-in-distress.
At the time I saw someone jokingly express pity for The Rock already being old enough to play the father of a hot daughter (it doesn’t help that Daddario, much older than her character, is only 14 years Johnson’s junior). Perhaps that’s why by the time of Skyscraper, when he had more clout, Rock could insist on playing a father to small children instead.
The bigger issue, though, is that many people were wondering how The Rock could wind up with a white child. It understandably raised questions of whether Hollywood just doesn’t consider children of color important enough to save in a big movie. Someone on Reddit said the casting didn’t bother her, as Johnson isn’t that dark and Daddario looks just like Gugino. Someone else pointed out that Johnson is half-black and half-Samoan so no baby born to him could look white. I wanted to point out that that’s not necessarily the character Ray’s ethnic background though, and that even if it were there’s no telling when some white genes might have joined the family tree. Heck, I once had a personal trainer with blonde hair and lovely blue-green eyes, even though her dad’s a Romani (Gypsy).
Now what I find harder to buy is that Ray and Emma’s deceased daughter, shown in flashbacks, was ALSO white. Perhaps The Rock then insisted on those kids of color in Skyscraper. Yet even there Neve Campbell played their mom. Maybe now Hollywood still doesn’t consider children who aren’t at least half-white important enough to save in a big movie.
This isn’t the time for a sociological treatise though. It’s time to talk about the movie San Andreas, which is a lot of fun. I was lucky enough to get to see it in 3D when it came out, but even in a nice home theatre system it’s a great way to spend a night.
Bottom Line: Exciting!
Up Next: Now we get serious.
*If you’re someone who would rather personally be the hero – dream on. You’re no Dwayne Johnson.
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