Maybe it's strange to call a film depicting the enormous devastation wrought by tornadoes a pleasant surprise. But, like the weather phenomena these rebellious scientists chase, this summer smash whooshed in out of nowhere.

After all, why would ticket-buyers assume that a follow-up to 1996's "Twister" is any good?

Usually when Hollywood cravenly defibrillates franchises to make a buck, it ignores what audiences loved about the originals in the first place.