By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * * * )
The Big Star of this movie is, of course, the Southern Alps, standing in for the Himalayas which were not available. The scenery is set with three climbers singing the old Eagles tune Take It To The Limit.
They are a family: father
(Stuart Wilson) and his kids Peter and Annie Garrett (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) who will soon be caught in a spectacular fall where Peter must make a decision that changes their lives.
Jump ahead a couple of years, and brother and sister, now estranged, bump into each other in the Himalayas. He's snapping pictures for National Geographic, having given up climbing after the accident; she's leading a filthy rich daredevil (Bill Paxton) to the summit of K2, a climb that has more to do with marketing for his airline than mountaineering.
Annie and the billionaire are trapped, and Peter must lead a motley team up the mountain in a desperate rescue effort.
Because this is not quite dangerous enough, they strap nitroglycerin on to the backs of three rescuers (in case they need to do some blasting at the summit). Then there's a grizzled mountain man (Scott Glenn), who's fond of chanting the Tibetan Book of the Dead in his tent, and who wants to murder the billionaire after he rescues him. Avalanches, explosions, and many strained bungi cords follow.
Director Martin Campbell can't conquer a laughable script but he makes the mountains look great. Even if he can't do the same for the humans.
Running time: 126 mins
Rental: Now
