FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Finest Hours
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Holliday Grainger
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

What It Is: Chronicling the most daring rescue in American Coast Guard history this story tells the tale of Bernie Webber (Pine) who tries to lend a hand to the sinking vessel. Armed with only a small lifeboat against 70 foot swells Webber will have to brace himself for what looks like impending doom. All the while on land he’s left his wife Miriam (Grainer)

What We Think: There’s a very Jekyll and Hyde tonality with this film. It moved from the great peril of the ship to the on-land struggle that Grainger’s character must deal with. It’s a bit messy at time, but the performances are mostly solid. It’s standard Disney live-action flare for the most part. Equal parts heart and pathos. There’s always this je ne sais quoi about Disney’s ventures into the real from stuff like Million Dollar Arm or The Rookie if it’s an underdog tale or a fight against insurmountable odds the House of Mouse has you covered. Unlike those previous two films, this one is really trying to hit those emotional strings a bit too hard. Sadly the momentum never builds to create those affections for these characters.

Our Grade: C, This is I reiterate a solidly built if unspectacularly constructed period piece that tells a harrowing tale with just enough oomph to sell its sizzle. Casey Affleck was good, Chris Pine didn’t suck which is good I suppose. This movie was like a delicious slab of vanilla ice cream. Sure it’ll fill a void but it doesn’t taste interesting in the least bit. It’s available on VOD and Blu-Ray (as well as DVD for you loser folks!) right now so sit back and do something more interesting while this plays in the background.