AUDIO: Hear Tim’s review of the film with Tom Barnard on “The KQ Morning Show.” Segment begins 2 minutes in.
“Adrift” (PG-13)
Just in time for hurricane season, Hollywood is reminding movie fans over the peril ahead in “Adrift,” an action adventure melded with a love story based on a harrowing true story from 35 years ago.
Shailene Woodley and Sam Clafin star as Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp, a free-spirited engaged couple who take on a job to navigate a yacht from Tahiti to San Diego as a way to fund their own worldwide sailing aspirations. Their trek takes a disastrous turn, however, when they encounter a rare Pacific hurricane, which ravages their vessel, leaving it sailing adrift with no help in sight.
“Adrift,” while thrilling at times is not necessarily a thriller … there’s no adverting sharks or the like, just the cruel reality of being left with little food and water that becomes the danger, and the disastrous effects that can result from it. Instead, “Adrift” is more of a love story as the film hops back and forth with lots of flashbacks (perhaps too many for its own good), telling how the couple met and the events leading up to the devastating storm.
“Adrift” is just over an hour and a half but it feels longer than that, because, you must remember, there’s an undeniable feeling of hopelessness that comes along with a damaged boat floating aimlessly with nothing but the sight of the ocean around it. Thankfully, Woodley and Clafin both turn in admirable performances to keep the film afloat, along with an inspiring coda detailing the plight of the real-life couple.
Lammometer: 7 (out of 10)
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.
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