Skyscraper

Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson is a U.S. war veteran turned FBI Hostage Rescue Team lead who retires soon after a mission goes horribly wrong. Ten years later he has adjusted to the loss of one of his legs and has gone into business making a name for himself as a leading security expert.

Multi-billionaire Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han) has hired Will to do an assessment of his newest project, The Pearl—the world’s largest skyscraper. He has invited Will and his family to be the only residents in the top half of the building while Will performs the 6-month investigation required by the insurance company before they can officially open.

Armed criminals, led by Kores Botha (Roland Møller), infiltrate the building and set it ablaze leaving the only man with the necessary security access, Will Sawyer, to take the blame. While the police are hunting for Will, the thugs are making their way up to the owner Zhao, not caring whether or not Will’s family dies in the fire. Will has no option but to launch himself into the towering inferno in order to save his wife Sarah (Neve Campbell) and their two kids.

“Skyscraper” is a movie fraught with peril, death defying stunts, gun-toting thugs, and action sequences galore led by none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. While the movie is without a doubt a stylish production with top-notch special effects, the substance is much less so. Additionally, there are issues that may be of concern.

Content of Concern

Violence: Heavy. The violence on display includes extensive combat between the hero Will and the mercenaries utilizing both knives and guns and eventually involving the police—many of whom are killed. Will suffers a knife wound as well as a piece of shrapnel lodged in his chest. There are explosions, fire and falling debris that constantly threaten Will’s family and results in casualties. One man is shot point blank through the chest, another is seen fatally falling from the building and an innocent bystander is strangled to death.

In a particularly disturbing scene, a father blows himself up, resulting in the probable death of his own family and kids. A character is shown with half his face scarred from a previous fire, and Will is seen on a hospital gurney with widespread facial trauma after an explosion. A room full of people are quickly murdered via automatic gun fire, a man explodes mid-air by hand grenade and some men are instantly killed by a fireball. Although not a lot of blood is seen, other than on some wounds, the violence is dramatic enough to make it inappropriate for children and pre-teens.

Language: Moderate to briefly heavy. The Lord’s name is taken in vain several times—“Jes** Ch***” (1), “Oh G*d” (3), “Oh my G*d” (3), “G*d” (1)—and “holy” is coupled with an expletive. The f-word is uttered once by the chief mercenary when threatening Will’s little girl with throwing her off the roof. Other curses and off-color words heard include “sh**” (7), “h*ll” (2), “d*mn” (1), “scr*w” (2), and “s*cks” (2). Although the bad language is not overly pervasive, when combined with the violence cited above it is sufficient enough to merit cautioning parents not to bring their kids.

Sex/Nudity: Minor. Early in the film Will playfully swats his wife’s backside before he leaves for his meeting, and she displays cleavage in a tight top before kissing him goodbye.

Alcohol is briefly used to cauterize a wound before Will humorously downs the rest of the bottle.

Positives

On the plus side, the attributes of what true love, as defined by God’s Holy Scripture, are shown in Will Sawyer’s character as he selflessly risks his life, time and time again, to save each member of his family.

“Love is patient… it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” —1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Along the same lines, Will seizes the chance to speak kindly to a dying friend despite the fact that the friend betrayed him. This shows that Will can also let go and forgive, as should we all.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:31-32

While the ‘Rock’ is his usual entertaining self, the backbone of any solid blockbuster is the script, and, unfortunately, this one falls way short. A very linear story, the script is overly simplistic and often devolves into what can best be described as a live-action video game. A prime example is when the hero is about to rescue his family, but then disaster rains down and so the parents are quickly separated from the kids before the kids are then separated from each other in similar fashion.

Further shortcomings in the story are evidenced by some of the nonsensical tech used, as well as the villain’s decisions that fall apart when given any kind of scrutiny by the audience. This last point, of course, is the reason for the almost non-stop action. “Skyscraper” is a polished, special effects laden film that will thrill and excite, but only for as long as each stunt lasts. I did not find it worth the price of admission, but it should make for an entertaining evening on DVD. Not recommended for children.

• Violence: Heavy
• Profane language: Moderate
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderate
• Nudity: None
• Sex: Minor
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Negative
• Young people
• Critics