Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘San Andreas’

Written by Scott Edwards

One of the most interesting things to me is what I would do when the future looks extremely bleak. In the event of a disaster, I would like to think that I would be able to gather my family up and get them to a safe place out of harm’s way, but when that is completed, what would I do next? That is the question, would I worry about everyone else that is suffering, or would I just worry about myself and my loved ones and make sure that they are safe from the outside world. I really don’t have to think twice about this since I am more worried about other people’s wellbeing than my own, I would try to help out as best as I could, since life is too short to have regrets.

Traveling with her mother’s boyfriend up to San Francisco, Blake is trying to stay entertained when she meets brothers Ollie and Ben Taylor in the waiting area of a building. Knowing that their time will be short together, Blake is kind enough to give her number to them when they have some downtime on their adventure. But before that can be utilized, the city starts to shake as a massive earthquake hits the city. Being trapped in a car, Blake is surprised to see that Ben and Ollie are there to help her out. Being free, the three start their trek up to the highest spot in the city, but the problem is that the quakes are not over yet and what they have just witnessed is the beginning of the end.

Raymond Gaines is upset that he has been called in for duty after being dispatched to the Hoover Dam when a surprise earthquake hit it. Wanting to spend the weekend with his daughter Blake, the job is more important and everyone in the family understands that. Saving lives is what Ray has made a career out of doing and there is very little that can put an end to it. Getting a call from his ex, Emma that Los Angeles is being hit with an earthquake, Ray turns the rescue helicopter in her direction to try and save her. Flying through the ravaged city, Ray is able to pull Emma to safety and now has to find a way to get to his daughter who is hundreds of miles away in San Francisco. With more problems than solutions, Ray knows enough to be safe when the big one hits the bay area.

Doctor Lawrence Hayes works at Cal Tech and loves his job. Teaching classes about seismic shifts, plate tectonics and earthquakes, he and his team are continuing to research an early warning system for if and when the big one hits. Being able to track a rise in magnetism before the quake at the Hoover Dam, Hayes will know when and where another earthquake will hit, but it is difficult to get anyone to listen. After Los Angeles is shaken beyond repair, the college’s computers light up with even higher reports coming from San Francisco. Thankfully he is able to get on television and warn the residents to get out of town as soon as possible, shortly before the big one starts to shake the state of California. Hopping his message helped the area, Hayes still has to duck and cover since the effect of the quake can be felt over two hundred miles away.

Talk about a disaster movie, this one truly did deliver with the effects. Watching as massive buildings collapse at a human level, well this movie really makes us people look small compared to our inventions. I am not sure who the story was supposed to revolve around, but when you have a great cast in every scene, it is hard to even care. But there are two scene stealers in this movie that just take all of the attention off of the story so you focus on them, Dr. Hayes and the lovable Ollie. Although you don’t see a ton of development out of these two, you will still just love seeing them on the screen and I wish that they had more prominent parts. You'll find fantastic special effects in this movie and I must admit that I would have never thought that a baseball stadium was a safe place during an earthquake, but hey, now I will have to check it out. Happy Viewing.

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