Raymond Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) is an LAFD rescue helicopter pilot. He is getting divorced to his wife Emma (Carla Gugino) after the death of their daughter Mallory. They still have their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario). Emma is moving in with her rich boyfriend Daniel Riddick (Ioan Gruffudd). Daniel is flying with Blake on a private plane to San Francisco as he opens his new highrise. Meanwhile, Caltech professor Dr. Lawrence Hayes (Paul Giamatti) is researching an earthquake predictor with reporter Serena Johnson (Archie Panjabi) doing a story on him. When the earthquake strikes, Blake is trapped as Daniel abandons her. Brothers Ben and Ollie Taylor come to the rescue.
It's funny that I saw Charlton Heston's Earthquake (1974) just before watching this movie. CGI has created much better destruction. Neither has a terribly good story. It's weird that the seismic teams from both movies go to a dam. The Rock is great as always. His opening rescue is fun and exciting. It does bother me that he's a rescue pilot but he doesn't rescue a soul flying all over California. I love the destruction and the action but lots of bothersome things start piling up.
It's weird that Raymond would tell Emma to bring as many people as possible to go up to the roof. He's only one helicopter and I doubt he could take more than ten people. They would be in terrible trouble if she's actually successful. Next, it bothered me that Ben brought Ollie down to the basement garage. I get the risk reward equation of rescuing the hot girl but he can't bring his little brother into that. Finally, Raymond and Emma is racing through the flooded streets like the Grand Prix. I cringed at thought of all those people they're running over as they speed through. You can forget about them stopping to help anybody else. That's the last straw for me. I can live with all the death and destruction but the heroes can't be running over everybody with their boat. There are a few overwrought scenes and I would like a connection between Dr. Hayes and the Gaines.
It's funny that I saw Charlton Heston's Earthquake (1974) just before watching this movie. CGI has created much better destruction. Neither has a terribly good story. It's weird that the seismic teams from both movies go to a dam. The Rock is great as always. His opening rescue is fun and exciting. It does bother me that he's a rescue pilot but he doesn't rescue a soul flying all over California. I love the destruction and the action but lots of bothersome things start piling up.
It's weird that Raymond would tell Emma to bring as many people as possible to go up to the roof. He's only one helicopter and I doubt he could take more than ten people. They would be in terrible trouble if she's actually successful. Next, it bothered me that Ben brought Ollie down to the basement garage. I get the risk reward equation of rescuing the hot girl but he can't bring his little brother into that. Finally, Raymond and Emma is racing through the flooded streets like the Grand Prix. I cringed at thought of all those people they're running over as they speed through. You can forget about them stopping to help anybody else. That's the last straw for me. I can live with all the death and destruction but the heroes can't be running over everybody with their boat. There are a few overwrought scenes and I would like a connection between Dr. Hayes and the Gaines.