Video: Paramount Pictures has had a family movie called “Monster Trucks” on their schedule for a while. In my head, I always figured it was about large trucks with big wheels that run over smaller cars. Kids love that stuff! Well, the first trailer is here and it’s not that. Monster Trucks is about monsters who hide in trucks. Literally.
X-Man Lucas Till stars in Monster Trucks, which is not what you are thinking. Image: Paramount
The first trailer is jaw-dropping in how literal this concept is taken, with the line “The monster is in the truck!” actually uttered.
That trailer is insane. It looks so, so dumb, but also so, so sincere that you almost want to give it a hug and say “It’s OK, weird movie. We understand what you’re trying to do.” The idea combining monsters, trucks, friendship, good versus evil, it all seems smart. Whether or not it works is pretty hard to say from that trailer, though.
At least the idea of traditional monster trucks is in there. There’s plenty of car-crushing and jumping to be had. It’s just because of these weird whale/squid monsters instead of huge tyres and improved suspension.
From director Chris Wedge, Monster Trucks stars Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Holt McCallany, Barry Pepper, Tucker Albrizzi, Danny Glover, Amy Ryan, Rob Lowe, Frank Whaley and Thomas Lennon. It opens on January 12.