There seems to be an alarming trend of nostalgia in our movies. Whether it’s imitating classic Hollywood in stirring dramas and musicals or ripping out favourite childhood movies from the grasps of our clingy – possibly sweaty – fingers, we have a fascination for familiarity and our own Golden Ages.
Unfortunately, this obsession with borrowing from the past has seen a cocaine-addled Hollywood producer desperately scrap the barrel of ideas; placing a squishy, fat, pulsating creature in the engine of a van and aptly calling it Monster Trucks. And, apparently, a lot of people went: “Yes Bob, this is a fucking genius idea, let’s make it and we’ll be millionaires.”
Out today in cinemas, and starring Lucas Till and Jane Levy, Monster Trucks is that kind of movie you’d expect to see on Channel 5 on a Sunday afternoon while you’re nursing the most outrageous hangover you’ve ever had. The film revolves around Tripp (whose name is ridiculous as his floppy hair.) He’s a young man, a lovable loser, who isolates himself from everyone including his step-father, a girl who wishes to tutor him (but, naturally, has a crush on him), and a mother concerned about him. Tinkering away in a junk-yard owned by a wheelchair bound Danny Glover who is definitely too old for this shit, he wishes to have an amazing truck to stop riding the school bus with young kids as he is constantly mocked. One evening, he comes across an oil-guzzling creature who is hiding from the oiling company that drilled into it’s underground home. Instead of taking him wherever, Tripp decides to enslave the creature to be the engine to his car, delivering on the promise of the movie title.
Yes. This certainly is a film.
There are genuine writers out there with new and interesting ideas but Monster Trucks is a thing. It’s a cinematic entity that holds little logic, few fun moments, and no actual interest in any of the characters. The film tries to hammer up the usual suspects of family fun antics including the lack of a decent father figure (where the father is an actual dick but the stepfather may actual care,) a man on the skirts of society despite being buff and attractive, a chubbier, geekier friend, a hammy teen romance, and a cute monster. Director Chris Wedge’s film has all of these components on a massive check list but regretfully shoves them awkwardly into a film that doesn’t even make sense half the time. There’s just absolutely no empathy and compassion and, therefore, the bewildering premise feels bland rather than enjoyable. As the monster – horrendously named Creech – suckles on oil drums, as is the energy and fun drained from the movie.
Levy and Till seem forced into the plot by equally jacked up agents though Levy manages the awkwardness with her special brand of naturalistic performing. The cast, which includes Rob Lowe and Amy Ryan, just stuffily populate the movie. You can see the cheque being cashed behind their eyes as they think: “I just have to pay rent. Next film will be an Oscar contender for sure.”
Even children will shuffle from boredom as the film shows little action, fewer poignant moments, and a really confusingly designed monster. There are better films on television today than this.
Monster Trucks is out in cinemas now!
