San Andreas: The disaster is spectacular, shame about the story

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson muscles his way though unthinkable mayhem in the new earthquake disaster epic San Andreas, but all his might may not be enough to hold the story together, warns CBC's film critic.

The former professional wrestler-turned-blockbuster movie star plays Ray Gaines, a Los Angeles rescue chopper pilot who springs into action when a series of record breaking earthquakes tear California into two.

Carla Gugino plays his estranged wife and Alexandra Daddario plays his daughter who becomes trapped in quake ravaged San Francisco.

Directed by Canadian Brad Peyton, the CGI-heavy action flick features lots of heart-pounding cinematic death and destruction, in which buildings topple like tinker toys and a tsunami turns San Francisco into Venice.

• From The Rock to The Rock: Gander director Brad Peyton on his disaster movie San Andreas

But all the thrilling action sequences can't hide a plot that's full of cracks.

"In the end, the disaster is spectacular, but it's a shame about the story," says CBC's film critic Eli Glasner.

"All the charisma and effects in the world can't save this witless script." 

San Andreas goes into wide release this weekend.

Watch Eli's full review in the video above.