B-movie plot meets A-movie budget with A-list actors = One helluva Good Time

Rating: 7/10 (29 April 2017)

"Kong: Skull Island" delivers on what a B-movie monster flick with an A-movie budget should be: a well paced, action-packed, visually competent, comedic, and an all around fun time. What helps set it apart from forgettable/mediocre monster flicks like 2014's "Godzilla" is its large and highly entertaining cast of talented A-listers that include Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, the reuniting of "Straight Outta Compton's" Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell, and the box office King himself, Kong.
The standout is John C. Reilly whose introduction breathes new energy into the movie just as things were about to turn dull. His character provides plenty of comic relief, interesting exposition, and a surprise emotional moment. Samuel L. Jackson almost steals the show as a vengeful, trigger-happy and profane army officer who has the only logically-sound motives. Also John Goodman and Corey Hawkins play scientists out to prove the existence of Kong and monsters. Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston have an interesting scene together in the beginning of the film but after that are kinda wasted with no real development. I had trouble remembering their names by the time the end credits rolled, but their charisma and sublime hair were enough to compensate. Jason Mitchell and Shea Whigham provided some nice banter that helped put a face on the faceless soldiers. Then there is the real star: Kong! The monster battles were visually delightful as well as inventively awesome -- like when Kong uses a propeller as a morning star. Shout out to the writers for not wasting everyone's time with a rehashed romance between Kong and the blonde damsel in distress. We had enough of that in Peter Jackson's interpretation.
In conclusion, "Kong: Skull Island" is an entertaining ride from start to finish that will thrill/entertain/amuse those willing to turn their brains off.