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Inspired by the Hasbro original of the same name, Battleship is an action-packed, explosive film that probably is much more animated than any real matches you’ve had in the board game. In an era where SGI-induced battle scenes are getting better with each film, the Peter Berg-directed action rivals some of your favorites, with clashes spanning land, air, and sea.

For the most part, the movie is based in Hawaii; a beautiful setting with wide-open sea, clear skies, and breathtaking terrain in the islands. But Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna look even better. Decker plays Sam, the love interest of protagonist Alex Hopper (played by Taylor Kitsch). Rihanna takes on the role of Cora Raikes, an officer under Lieutenant Hopper. It’s clear that one of the main draws of the movie are the two beautiful women, and they both live up to the hype. Interestingly, although Rihanna was advertised as a huge star, her role in the film is not so monumental – a good thing. Making her big screen debut, it’s almost as though the crew didn’t set her up to fail. In turn, she excelled in her under-ranking officer character, filled with spunk and courage.

The plot revolves around Alex Hopper, a young man full of talent, as well as laziness. However, when aliens from another galaxy come to invade the Earth, all jokes are aside for Hopper. With a rag-tag crew of Navy men, the battle scenes between Earth’s fleet and outerworldly ships are extremely entertaining. It’s like Halo meets Call of Duty, but on water. One of the more touching points in the film is when Hopper is forced to call on retired Navy veterans for assistance; this is due to win over the veteran crowd who is sure to watch. It also features real-life veteran Colonel Greg Gadson, who brings a sense of authenticity to the film, but can be exposed for his lack of acting talent at times.

While the battle scenes are what make the movie, the actual dialogue is what anchors it to a halt. It was gawking at times, relying too heavily on tired clichés rather than fresh ideas. There are hints of comic relief, but it’s sometimes outweighed by predictable writing. But, if you can get past some of the cheesy ‘Save-the-world’ scenes, Battleship finishes very strong. Great scenery, gorgeous women, and ginormous battle scenes – all things that make an action movie watchable.

Check out the trailer for Battleship below and see it in theaters now: