Movie Review

Dwayne Johnson's Rampage gives monster movies a bad name

Dwayne Johnson has become a big enough movie star that it’s more than fair to start questioning his choices. With 10 out of his last 14 movies earning over $100 million, and many of them making well above that mark, he can get approval for almost any movie he wants to make.

So why, apart from the obvious answer of money, does he continue to attach his name to such dreadful material? His latest awful outing is Rampage, which is very loosely based on the popular ‘80s video game. Johnson plays Davis Okoye, a primatologist at the San Diego Wildlife Park who works well with one of the park’s gorillas, George.

When a weaponized version of the gene-editing serum called CRISPR (which is a real thing) gets plunked down at several spots in the U.S. after a space station accident, George, a wolf, and an alligator all inadvertently get transformed into gigantic, aggressive versions of themselves. They proceed to create havoc, and it’s up to Davis and rogue scientist Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) to find a way to stop them.

The result is one of the most inane, uninspired, and lazy movies I have ever seen. And I’m not even talking about the story; it’s almost a given that this type of movie will have plot holes a mile wide. But the fact that director Brad Peyton and the quartet of writers (who include Lost’s Carlton Cuse) consistently go for the easy and dumb ways of trying to entertain the audience should be insulting to any moviegoer, discerning or not.

They give us villains (Malin Akerman and Jake Lacy) who are evil for no apparent reason and whose motives appear to stem from the presence of the original Rampage video game in their offices. The wolf and alligator acquire wild side effects from the serum, but George only becomes bigger so that he doesn’t appear too monstrous. And, like Pacific Rim Uprising and other destructive movies, they expect us to get excited over the demolition of many buildings and vehicles, even if that means that we’re seeing hundreds or thousands of innocent people die in the process.

Johnson puts on his usual charm offensive, but it’s in support of such a generic and uninteresting story that it takes him down. They pay lip service to Harris’ character being smart and capable on her own, but she never gets a chance to show it. The only truly entertaining actor is Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who chews the scenery as a government official with zeal, showing he’s the only one who understands what the movie should have been.

Johnson has shown glimpses through the years of using his powers for the good of moviegoers, but Rampage indicates that he’s still much more interested in making money than making good movies. It’s possible he can change, but I wouldn’t bet on it anytime soon.

Dwayne Johnson in Rampage.

Dwayne Johnson in Rampage

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Dwayne Johnson in Rampage.

movies

This week's hot headlines

Meaty restaurant news leads this week's 5 hottest Dallas headlines

Steak

Courtesy photo

More red meat in Dallas.

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Meaty newcomer downtown makes this Dallas restaurant news muy macho. This roundup of Dallas dining news has a surprising number of openings, either in the works or already here. There's also a slew of new menu items coming online, some of which are pumpkin in theme. There are some exciting new chefs in town. Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news.

Fancy prefab homes are on the way. Modular home has a simple, uncluttered design. HiFab

2. West Dallas developer launches new venture building fancy prefab homes. Oaxaca Interests, the Dallas real estate company that developed Sylvan Thirty in West Oak Cliff, is expanding into modular homes, with a manufacturing plant in Grand Prairie and a new product that's already for sale. The manufacturing outfit is called HiFAB, and their first product is Haciendas, featuring homes designed by Lake|Flato, a San Antonio architecture firm.

inchworm The worm is not even an inch long. agrilife.org

3. Tiny green inchworm is devouring its way across Dallas trees. There's a sticky situation developing across Dallas-Fort Worth: It's the invasion of the cankerworm and it's literally hanging around outside your door. Cankerworms AKA inchworms are tiny caterpillars that feed off trees, especially the hackberry which is their favorite, and in fall 2022, they've arrived in North Texas with a vengeance.

Cliff May-designed home House at 11106 Snow White is a sprawling ranch. Hunter Dehn Realty

4. Rare home in Dallas' Disney streets designed by Cliff May is for sale. There's a stunning mid-century modern home for sale in Dallas' famed Disney streets neighborhood by legendary architect Cliff May. Located at 11106 Snow White Dr., the house was built in 1955 and miraculously retains some original features, particularly some delicious wood paneling.

High 5 There'll be bowling, axes, escape rooms, and more. Courtesy rendering

5. Mega entertainment complex from Austin to open at The Farm in Allen. There's a little bit of Austin fun coming to Allen: High 5 Entertainment, an experiential entertainment company, will open a massive gaming venue in the splashy new development The Farm in Allen, where it promises to unleash a copious dose of games and amusements.

news-you-can-eat nature home-for-sale concerts hot-headlines

Vegan News

Best vegan grocer in Denton relocates to market-deli space

mashup market cheese

Mashup Market

Mashup has an excellent selection of vegan cheese.

An acclaimed market in Denton specializing in all things vegan is making a move: Mashup Market, the plant-based specialty grocer that debuted at 316 Oak St. in 2020, is closing that original location and making its new headquarters at 1302 W. Hickory St., its second location that opened in 2021.

Owner Cherie Reed says that the new location offers a better platform and resources for the kinds of expansion she wants to undertake.

"We are moving all our products and resources to 1302 W. Hickory to focus on continued product additions and a new deli we have in the works," she says. "We've loved developing a following with our original location at 316 E. Oak but that will be closed after Sunday September 25."

She anticipates that all of the products currently carried at Oak Street will be available at the Hickory location by Wednesday September 28.

Reed opened Mashup Market as a place to stock vegan provisions from local, Texas, and small U.S. businesses, including jerky by It's Jerky Y'all, Spread Happiness Nut Butters by UNT grad Yesika Horton, and delectable vegan meats by vendors such as ribs by Dallas-based The Boneless Butcher and a vegan stuffed turkey by acclaimed The Herbivorous Butcher based in Minneapolis.

She's one of two DFW vendors, along with Lucky Mouth Grocery in Oak Cliff, who's stocking the wildly popular vegan cheeses by Rebel Cheese, an artisanal maker in Austin. Her vegan cheese selection is broad, with vendors from across the U.S.

The store sells dry goods, snacks, cooking kits, dressings, vegan caramel sauce, great wines, and a big selection of gluten-free goods.

It's also become a destination for vegan pop-ups such as Vuture Foods, and exciting product introductions such as the recent demo of vegan bacon by Thrilling Foods. When the store started serving deli sandwiches last year, they saw a robust response.

The new location is close to Pepita's, the family-owned vegan Mexican restaurant at 1115 W. Hickory St. that opened in 2021 — with the proximity creating yet more vegan synergy.

In fact, Pepitas is allowing Mashup customers to park in their lot, behind the restaurant.

"Great opportunity to grab something from Pepitas and shop!," Reed says.

Meanwhile, there are sales: Mashup will be selling many items at the Oak Street location at 25 percent off — "so we don't have to move them," she says.

vegan shopping

Opening news

6 new restaurants now open in Dallas dish up Thai, Cajun, & sweet cakes

Sakhuu Thai duck

Sakhuu Thai

Duck from Sakhuu Thai.

It's a busy time for restaurant openings around Dallas, with many in the works, some coming this year, others in 2023.

But this list is more immediate. It's for those who live in the here and now. These restaurants have either just opened or are about to any day. (Two are opening this very weekend.)

There's a coffee shop, a bakery, a Greenville Avenue bar, a doner place, a Loatian-Thai restaurant, and a seafood spot. Something for all tastes.

Here's the 6 newest restaurant openings in Dallas going down:

La La Land Kind Cafe
Dallas coffee shop chain known for its bright yellow color scheme and charitable mission to employ foster youth just opened a location in Richardson. Taking up a former Great Outdoors Sub Shop at 242 W. Campbell Rd., this is the seventh La La in Texas since the concept debuted off Lowest Greenville in 2017. They have a fun menu of drinks such as the Butterfly Latte with a Fruity Pebbles flavor, featuring matcha and butterfly pea blossom tea, and The Cookies n’ Dream Latte with Oreo crumble, la la cloud foam, honey, vanilla, and espresso. Their food menu comprises light bites such as Truffle & Burrata Avocado Toast and Cacao Banana Chia Seed Pudding. This location is unique for the chain in that it's their first drive-thru, which has as of late become an essential amenity for coffee places.

Lubellas Patisserie
The much-anticipated bakery from acclaimed pastry chef Maria Becerra (she was nominated for a CultureMap Tastemaker Award in 2022 for Pastry Chef of the Year) and her husband Ismael Trejo Gonzalez opens on September 25 at 10323 Ferguson Rd. The couple share many years in the restaurant industry, but this is their first shop which they opened in the newly renovated '50s Casa View Center (also home to a buzzy new Starbucks community store). Lubellas is named for their two daughters, and will serve desserts including croissants, cakes to order and cake by the slice, pan dulce, and tres leches cakes, similar to the ones Becerra bakes for Jose Restaurant in the Park Cities.

Meyboom Brasserie
At long last, it's opening day on September 23 for this cool bar-restaurant at 2100 Greenville Ave., serving Belgian bites and beverages. Named for a parade that takes place in Brussels, Meyboom had a lengthy journey: Owners Jeff and April Karetnick initially set their sights on the former San Francisco Rose space, but between the pandemic and parking issues, they pivoted to this new-and-improved location. Two years later, it's a happy ending, with a fine lineup of beers and food, such as mussels which you can get done four ways, and stick-to-your-ribs dishes like potato and beer cheese soup, leek & mashed potatoes, and roasted cauliflower with beer cheese sauce. A dedicated brunch menu includes Belgian street fries, poutine, Liege waffles, build-your-own omelets, and chocolate-raspberry French toast.

Sakhuu Thai
Lao and Thai restaurant founded in Dallas in 2012 has opened its third location, this one in Plano at The Shops at Legacy North, at 7300 Lone Star Dr. #C128. Signature dishes include duck with rice, sizzling Bangkok beef, salmon pa-nang, noodles, fried rice, curries, and stuffed chicken wings. Beyond their usual Lao and Thai fusion staples, this location has some Plano-exclusive items including sea bass, chicken with yuzu citrus sauce, and garlic stir fry. They're open for dinner nightly and weekday lunch, when they feature a daily special with fried veggie egg roll or soup of the day, entrée, and beverage. They also have a full-service bar with exotic cocktails such as Sakhuu jungle fever and Thai tea paradise.

Spitz Frisco
Fast-casual restaurant concept from California is opening in Frisco at 6851 Warren Pkwy. #201 on September 29. They specialize in doner kebabs: thin slices of meat shaved from a vertical spit roast, then wrapped in flatbread with tomato, onion, lettuce, and sauce. They also do veggie wraps such as the one with hummus, lemon-herb tahini, olives, green pepper, tomato, cucumber, roasted corn, pickled onions, crispy garbanzos, romaine, cabbage, falafel, or quinoa. There's a big commitment to fries such as Berliner fries topped with berliner red sauce, tzatziki sauce, cabbage, carrot slaw, cucumber, tomato, feta, olives, corn, and pepperoncinis. Other options include salads, bowls, and gyros, and a full bar with cocktails, wine, beer, and sangria.

Tricky Fish
Local seafood concept founded in 2017 by Chris Degan, former president of Razzoo’s Brands, has opened its fourth Dallas-area location in Frisco, at 1305 Cowboys Way in The Star District. Tricky Fish is known for its coastal Cajun-inspired seafood dishes, with highlights such as Fried Green Tomatoes served with Remoulade and blackened shrimp; The D.G.D Darn Good Salad; and the Fried Shrimp Po’Boy. Today’s Catch is a daily seafood offering with a variety of preparations from which to choose such as the signature “Tricky Fish” style with crawfish etouffee, dirty rice, and okra. A full bar serves craft cocktails, beer on tap, a daily happy hour, and rotating drink specials. Weekend brunch with a DIY mimosa bar is served Saturday-Sunday, 10 am–2 pm.

openings