The difference between a disaster movie and an action movie is neatly summarized in “Poseidon,” a remake of the 1972 hit “The Poseidon Adventure.”
The earlier film was a prime example of that silly but fun craze of the ’70s, the disaster movie. For its seagoing yarn of survivors clambering out of an upside-down ocean liner, it leaned on cornball melodrama, a sturdy cast and wild special effects.
The remake jettisons most of the bothersome niceties of dialogue and character in favor of straight action. As an action movie, it isn’t half-bad; but nobody will remember it a year from now, whereas “The Poseidon Adventure” is still a fond memory for many.
It’s New Year’s Eve, and the cruise ship Poseidon has found itself too close to a “rogue wave.” After a very brief intro to a handful of characters, the wave hits and the ship flops upside down.
We follow a small band of folks as they leave the ballroom in search of an exit through the bottom of the ship – with bursting pipes and rising water nipping at their heels the whole time.
An ex-mayor of New York City, Kurt Russell, is on hand, with his daughter (Emmy Rossum) and her fiance (Mike Vogel) in tow. The self-appointed leader of the group is a professional gambler played by Josh Lucas (late of “Stealth” and “Glory Road”), an actor who gets more crazed-looking with each movie.
There’s also a gay man (Richard Dreyfuss) despondent over a breakup, a single mother (Jacinda Barrett) and her young son, and a Latina stowaway (Mia Maestro). The thumbnail descriptions here represent pretty much the bulk of what we learn about these people during the entirety of the movie.
But then, the entirety of the movie consists of a quick 98 minutes. The emphasis is on digital effects (including a fun opening shot that curves all the way around the computer-generated Poseidon) and blindingly fast transitions from one hairbreadth escape to the next.
The director, Wolfgang Peterson, can be terrific with a good script, and he made “Das Boot” and “The Perfect Storm,” so he’s been anointed as the go-to guy for motion on the ocean. He makes the sight of water sloshing out of a swimming pool exciting, but he can’t wave a magic wand over the dialogue.
It’s not an actors’ movie, although Kurt Russell provides some reliable meatheaded confidence. The women have especially embarrassing roles, and Andre Braugher (as the captain) is quickly defeated by his idiotic speeches.
With Richard Dreyfuss, a certain professionalism prevails, but how concerned can you be about this guy? He beat Jaws all those years ago; surely a capsized ocean liner won’t get the better of him.
“Poseidon” stars include Kurt Russell (center front) and Richard Dreyfuss (right front) as survivors of the capsize of a luxury ocean liner trying to find a way out.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
