When magnitude-nine quakes strike Los Angeles and San Francisco, an L.A. rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) is determined to save his daughter in S.F. Well, there’s an original scenario. He abandons his duties, steals a chopper, snags his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) from the roof of a collapsing skyscraper, and they work on their relationship issues en route.

This is disaster on a gargantuan, bloated, physics-defying, almost pornographic scale. “Dumb” would be a compliment. Visually impressive as mindless sensory barrages go, but soulless and tension-free. Makes Roland Emmerich look good. Japanese title: California Down. (114 min)