There’s quite a genre mash-up going on here. Given it’s a Godzilla movie, one might think this is a Creature Feature. Sure it flows that way in some moments based on the human story and their actions. In my eyes this is a Disaster Movie masquerading as a Creature Feature.
Really, Godzilla and his ilk are such massive creatures that whatever throw-downs that happen are on such a destructive scale that humanity can only hope to survive it. For story’s sake, the humans behave as if they’re in a Creature Feature, trying to find ways to stop or destroy the monsters. At least, one faction does that. Another faction believes the planet needs a reset and there’s no greater equaliser than a great disaster to decimate the human race and give Earth a fighting chance.
Been there, done that… and the audience yawns until the next big throw-down as each creature is awaken, and Godzilla turns up to put that creature in his or her place. In that, some people are going to hate this movie finding the human story overwrought and cliched, getting in the way of the monster brawls. Especially given how Godzilla was endlessly teased and cast aside for most of the run-time in his previous appearance.
Others may appreciate the breather of a decently performed and emotionally connective story of a family trying to survive the onslaught of destructive mayhem raining around them, even if motives are mired in tragedy. In that, we get some solid and assured work from Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, and Ken Watanabe. Charles Dance gives us someone to hiss at, Vera Fermiga aims for the heartstrings, perhaps debatable if she’s successful in that, while the rest of the gang from Zhang Ziyi to Bradley Whitford try to inject anything from concern to pathos to humour. While Watanabe brings the connective tissue for the human story, he is supported by returning stars, Sally Hawkins and David Strathairn.
The humans give us the best look at the mysterious Monarch organisation that has been mentioned and hinted at in the previous Godzilla movie as well as Kong: Skull Island. While Kong gets a singular name drop (as far as I can recall), Skull Island gets mentioned a bunch and we get teased with the upcoming showdown between the cinematic giants for the next entry too.
As a whole, however, I guess a lot of how much you’d enjoy this would be based on your preconceived expectations. The human story is serviceable to the overall scheme of things, even if it may feel a little familiar. Taken as a whole, I feel it works well enough to help stitch the few action scenes together. As I mentioned earlier, they behave as if they’re in a Creature Feature, so their actions may come across as futile and illogical, with massive disregard for radiation safety and a carefree inclination to mega explosions.
At least there is admittedly a little heart to make you care for some of them. The creature design is pretty good and the cinematography around the creatures is gorgeous. Director Michael Dougherty does show some care for his giant performers, clearly imbuing it all as a labour of love.
Rating: 
/5
Directed by Michael Dougherty
Written by Michael Dougherty & Zack Shields
From a story by Max Borenstein, Michael Dougherty & Zack Shields
Stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Fermiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, with Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Bradley Whitford, and David Strathairn
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