Disney’s newest live action venture, “The Finest Hours,” is just what you would expect.
A simple Coast Guard crew must rise to the occasion when a brutal storm ravages Massachusetts coastal waters.
Although it is a true story of remarkable courage and the triumph over insurmountable odds, the film doesn’t dazzle quite like the plot summary would suggest.
Movies of this sort have been made before and I’m sure many more will be made after which is neither a terribly good nor bad thing since they bring nothing particularly remarkable to the table, yet they fulfill the task of keeping your eyes fixed and your palms sweaty for two hours.
Chris Pine, well known for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in the most recent Star Trek reboots, plays a somewhat convincing blue collar everyman who has a particular fixation with following the rules, a characteristic the film tries to focus on, but has trouble developing into a fulfilling holistic finish.
Apart from this there are several other mini ideas touched on, none of which stand out as the overriding thematic conclusion that a better film might address and flesh out in greater detail.
As a result the movie succeeds in leaving you mildly unsatisfied.
Despite some of these moderate failures – there are a few small victories such as the intrigue and delight of visiting another time period, an intrigue often found in period pieces, especially those taking place in the mid 20th century.
It is all very clean cut and straight forward, being that it is a Disney film, it possesses the usual tame, family directed cleanliness and lacks a sharp grittiness that might put it into the above average blockbuster category. Sadly, Disney has not produced a picture with such exceptional, tenacious bravado since the very first installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise leaving us to all wonder: should Disney just stick to Pixar?
Despite all of this “The Finest Hours” still manages to leave you with a greater appreciation for the heroism of everyday people, and for that it should be acknowledged.
I give The Finest Hours 2.5/4 stars
