Watching an action movie taking place in a flaming skyscraper and starring Dwayne Johnson, I wasn’t expecting an Oscar-caliber film, however, I didn’t expect to be so bored. This film heavily borrows from the playbook of “Diehard,” but lacks the interesting characters and clever action sequences. Dwayne Johnson has more than just his massive muscles and good looks to bring to the table. He can be funny and charming, but here, he plays it all fairly stiff. Making it worse is the fact that there is a lack of chemistry between him and his family. They never feel like a family, just actors playing a family. Neve Campbell, McKenna Roberts and Noah Cotrell are likable but forgettable as the wife and children in peril, while the rest of the cast is just there. Most of the twists are telegraphed from the early parts of the film, and it’s a slow crawl till the action starts. Even then, there’s not that much action, and what we do get is unimpressive. Even worse, the main characters never feel like they’re in danger. The massive building is never given enough scope, while the raging fire is just a background nuisance that never feels like a threat. The ending is absurdly unbelievable. If it was better written, they might have pulled it off, but instead it was just silly.

*1/2 out of *****