The Original Twister Wasn’t A Disaster Movie

If you focus on the characters in Twister instead of the setting, the rom-com elements can’t be ignored. We’re introduced to Bill Paxton’s Bill Harding, a talented storm-chaser-turned-weatherman who’s soon to be wed to his reproductive therapist fiancée, Melissa Reeves (Jami Gertz). Though he has left his storm-chasing days behind him to settle down and work a regular job, he has to meet up with his old flame, Jo Harding (Helen Hunt), to finalize his divorce.

Through the dialogue, we learn that Bill has been trying to get Jo to sign the divorce documents for months, but she has been reluctant to do so for personal reasons (she’s still in love with him). This source of conflict is supposed to be, and is, very funny.

In Twister, Bill is referred to as a “human barometer” in the sense that he’s the kind of guy who could pretty much smell dirt and know exactly where a tornado is about to touch down. Jo, who still hasn’t signed the divorce papers, and the rest of her crew, are preparing to deploy their new storm-tracking device known as Dorothy. Bill has a personal attachment to Dorothy (and Jo), and decides to tag along to send Dorothy on her inaugural voyage.

But what is Bill really chasing after … the storm? Or Jo?

As Twister progresses into its second and third acts, it becomes painfully obvious that the Bill and Jo are two peas in a pod, and they set aside their differences so they can prove their Dorothy concept before competing jerk, Jonas Miller (Carey Elwes), does the same with technology that he clearly stole from Bill.

Twister couldn’t be a rom-com without some source of romantic conflict, and that’s why we need to talk about Melissa for a second. There is literally nothing wrong with this woman aside from the fact that she is afraid of tornadoes. She’s a nice, supportive, and caring woman who is clearly in love with Bill.

Even though she’s absolutely terrified of tornadoes, she follows Bill and Jo around as they cheat death in almost every scene, traumatizing herself in the process.

But Melissa has one fatal flaw: she’s not Jo.

Okay, now that I’m thinking about it, Twister is definitely a disaster movie, but it’s not like other disaster movies. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt are absolute quip machines, and their banter is what truly seals the deal for me. Their crew, featuring the likes of Alan Ruck, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jake Busey, and Joey Slotnick, all of which who have excellent comedic timing, makes for a great romantic comedy.

As Bill and Jo sort out their personal issues, the whole crew is rooting for them to not only get Dorothy to fly, but also hug and kiss and make up.

Melissa, who I need to remind you is a wonderful woman, can go kick rocks because this movie is about Bill, Jo, and their undying love for each other.

I’m pointing out the things that I think make Twister a great movie because the marketing for 1996 film is incredibly misleading. Fraught with tense storm footage, and a disproportionate amount of action and drama (of which there is plenty in the film), you’d think you were getting into a straight disaster flick if you based its premise on its promotional content alone. This makes me wonder if Twisters will offer a similar experience.

Will the Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell-starring epic be as jarring as its trailers make it out to be? Or will I find out that the sequel is just as fun as the original because of its strong characters and expertly placed moments of comic relief?

All I know is that there better be at least one flying cow or I’m going to be gravely disappointed.