“Into the Storm” windy, go back to “Twister” for better tornado tale

The sci-fi movie “Into the Storm” follows some tornado chasers into some pretty fierce, computer-generates images of whirlwinds but thats the high point of the film, which follows the exploits of a team of storm chasers led by Pete (Matt Walsh) in his armored car, complete with 16 cameras and a beginner assistant who’s not comfy in the car.

There’s also a big kind of RV complete with the usual weather video screens and run by Sarah Wayne Callies and staff.

Richard Aritage is cast as a high school principal who hasn’t time for his sons but does worry about the students as the school collapses.

Pete is under pressure from his sponsor to get some good footage of tornadoes and he’s ready to risk his life and others to get it.

Then there’s the teen couple Donnie (Max Deacon) and Kaitlyn (Alicia Debnam-Carey) who get stuck in a wrecked building and have what is probably the longest swan songs as they huddle in a pool of water reaching their lips but stopping long enough for them to share thoughts of love and life.

All the humans should probably get in another line of work if this is the best they can do.

Of course, it’s the tornados that star here --- giant ones, one that even sucks up fire along with a camera man. The computer stuff robs the storms of any impact because you know they are just computer images.

Don’t waste your money on this empty whirlwind. Just go to the Weather Channel and catch the big storms there

Cast

Richard Armitage as Gary Morris

Sarah Wayne Callies as Allison Stone

•Matt Walsh as Pete

•Alycia Debnam-Carey as Kaitlyn

•Arlen Escarpeta as Daryl

•Jeremy Sumpter as Jacob

•Nathan Kress as Trey

•Max Deacon as Donnie

•Kyle Davis as Donk

•Scott Lawrence as Principal

•Jon Reep as Reevis

Directed by

Steven Quale

Produced by

Todd Garner

Written by

John Swetnam

Brian Tyler

Cinematography

Brian Pearson

Edited by

Eric A. Sears

Running time 89 minutes rated PG-13

The Associated Press contributed to this report.