Shocking characters can’t ruin a monstrously good time.

It’s no small miracle that, after seven years of withering reviews and diminishing box office returns, Warner Bro’s MonsterVerse has somehow become one of Hollywood’s most enduring franchises. It’s perhaps even more surprising when you consider that the fate of this entire shared universe has been resting on the shoulders of just two characters, both of whom are designed almost entirely to be giant, wordless wrecking machines.

Iconic though they may be, it’s nonetheless remarkable that the names of Godzilla and Kong alone have been enough to drag this franchise to a fourth instalment. Yet here we are, as the boxing-like promotion of a long-awaited showdown between these two icons hopes to reenergise a series that looked for all the world like it was out for the count.

But can this fight between two legendary cinematic monsters really deliver on its epic billing and succeed where many of its predecessors have faltered?

With the world still reeling from the battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah, humanity has begun co-existing with the Titans. However, after Godzilla begins a new reign of terror, the world must call upon another legend to help stop him: Kong. With Godzilla cutting a swath of destruction across the globe, the fate of humankind is in the hands of these two iconic Titans, as their battle – instigated by unseen forces – marks only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within Earth’s core.

If you’re going to square two of the most iconic characters in cinema history against one another right there on the title of your film, there really is little margin for error. Many ‘Vs’ movies have come and gone with nothing but a whimper, often so preoccupied with the concept of the battle than how the battle is won, yet Godzilla vs Kong has gotten its fight just right.

Quite frankly, if it’s a fight of epic proportions you’re promising, you better damn well deliver one, and that’s just what Godzilla vs Kong does. It promises us an epic head-to-head between Godzilla and Kong, and that, for the most part, is precisely what we get, as the two icons are showcased to their fullest in some of the most impressive action either character has ever been involved with.

Judged exclusively on these terms, you have to consider Godzilla vs Kong a win, especially considering the hit-and-miss nature of the MonsterVerse as a whole. This is a franchise that was looking dangerously close to imploding after its predecessor, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, failed to land any of the punches it threatened, however, if this instalment is any indication, there may just be a future for this universe yet.

For a good portion of its running time, Godzilla vs Kong is the balls-out, no-nonsense action flick this franchise has been vowing from the very beginning, delivering some truly breath-taking sequences that showcase its titular monsters at their very best. Like every other film in the franchise (or any other monster film for that matter) there’s gratuitous destruction aplenty, as Kong and Godzilla’s disregard for city planning is shown in all its glory, however, what marks this one out from the crowd is the sheer style and scope of the carnage on offer.

While King of the Monsters chose ugly, muddy, off-putting visuals as the backdrop for its kaiju showdown, Godzilla vs Kong not only cleans up its act and brightens the frame so we can actually see what the hell’s going on but injects a huge dose of energy and visual flare into proceedings. The result is a stylish, fun, neon-slicked battle that offers nostalgic thrills while making full use of the CGI technology available to deliver a true feast for the eyes.

Giving both the monsters and their destruction true scale and impact while adding some exciting stylistic flourishes, director Adam Wingard makes the absolute most of the tools at his disposal to deliver action that satisfies in ways many of the previous franchise offerings haven’t. Taking some of the best elements from both Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs Kong genuinely feels like the culmination of the entire franchise to this point, however, while this certainly works for the action, it also sees many of the franchise’s worst traits come creeping back.

As one of the biggest pratfalls of the MonsterVerse thus far, it seemed almost inevitable that the human characters would once again come along to ruin things and alas it has come to pass once again. Likewise, as with every previous MonsterVerse movie, the complete lack of effort that’s gone into the human characters here appears inversely proportional to the acting talent on display, which only adds to the disappointment.

Like all three previous efforts, the cast here is pretty damn impressive, and with an ensemble that boasts the likes of Alexander Skarsgård, Milly Bobby Brown, and Brian Tyree Henry, it’s not as if Godzilla vs Kong’s issues are down to a lack of talent, it’s more that the writing is often so slapdash there’s not much that can be done to elevate it. Barring young Kaylee Hottle and Brian Tyree Henry’s entertaining conspiracy theorist, every other character acts as little more than a cypher to push the wafer-thin plot along and a rather weak bridge to take us between battle scenes.

Of course, no one really watches a film like Godzilla vs Kong thinking they’ll get much from the human characters, however, when a fair chunk of your film is dedicated to them, it’s fair to expect something a little more substantial. From Demián Bichir’s moustache-twirling villainy to Alexander Skarsgård’s bland Indiana Jones-lite hero, few of the characters on offer will live long in the memory, as they fail to step out from our eponymous monsters’ rather large shadow.

Amid all this is a plot that gets the job done in terms of dragging us from Titan fight to Titan fight, yet it’s little more than that. As a whole, the script is as flimsy as one would expect, however, what it does do is provide a solid enough platform for Adam Wingard to build upon and to ensure that the film delivers where it matters.

To this end, Wingard knows precisely the assignment given, as he crafts a string of action set pieces that are both epic in scale and pleasing on the eye, and this, ultimately, is where Wingard and Godzilla vs Kong succeed. While the lack of plot and character substance would be enough to sink many a monster movie, Wingard manages to circumvent this by giving the audience the kaiju carnage and epic spectacle they came to see.

If ever a film needed to deliver on the grandeur of its title, it’s this one. It’s a relief therefor that Godzilla vs Kong lives up to its lofty billing with all the epic spectacle you could ever want from a giant monster throw down. Yes, the plot and character development stink. And yes, the human drama is just as awful as at any point in this franchise’s past. Yet the film serves up more than enough crushing action and eye-catching visual style to keep everyone happy and keep the MonsterVerse alive and kicking. Just a shame half the world are stuck watching it on a small screen for now.

Godzilla vs Kong is available in selected cinemas and to stream on HBO Max (US) / all good VOD stores (everywhere else) now.