I picked The Mountain Between Us for my second Moviepass film because I thought it was a disaster film. I got the disaster part right. The film is a chick flick. It is a Harlequin-y romance. I am surprised that such a sappy film drew talent like Idris Elba (known more for his action films) and Kate Winslet. The film isn't a total loser, particularly if you like the genre. But it definitely was not what I was expecting.
When storms cause flight cancellations from Idaho into Denver, photographer Alex Martin (Winslet) books a flight on a charter. Realizing that fellow passenger Ben Bass (Elba) is going the same direction, she offers him the opportunity to share the flight. The pilot, Walter (Beau Bridges) does not file a flight plan for the short daylight hop over to Denver. The trio load up in the aircraft with Walter's dog for the flight. Walter suffers a stroke/heart attack during the flight, causing the small aircraft to crash high in the mountains. Bass and Martin are forced to rely upon each other to survive as they navigate the hazards of the steep, snowy mountains in search of help. Along the treacherous journey, they discover a deep common bond that connects them.
I covered my fundamental issue with this film. The script was fairly shallow and Harlequinesque. It was more love story than it was about survival. And it was a cheesy love story at times. Complete with the "running into each other's arms" ending. Weak. Predictable. Cloying. There were some redeeming qualities to this film. First, there was the acting. While working with a cheesy script, these veteran actors did an excellent job. I believe this may be Elba's first chick flick, but he made the transition easily enough. I had no issue with the performances. I also really enjoyed the scenery. The cinematography was breathtaking at times.
The MPAA rated The Mountain Between Us with a PG-13 rating based on sexuality, a mild (nudity free) sex scene, some violence, tense situations and language. For the most part, this film was tame. There wasn't much steam to make the sex scene "steamy" and there was no nudity. Although Winslet was sporting a see-through top. The violence and danger aspects of this film were also mild. I would have liked to see more tension. A bit more danger, violence or suspense.
I give The Mountain Between Us the mildest recommendation I can give. That means definitely wait until it is streaming on video. Wait for a rainy day when nothing else is on. And don't mistake this film for a disaster film. It is a romance. And not necessarily a good one. There are some redeeming qualities. The casting was exceptional and the actors seemed to have genuine chemistry. Which is pretty dang important for a love story. The scenery was probably my favorite aspect of this film. Other than that, I was disappointed. 5.5/10.
