Eight Below Review

Overall Rating

Good animal performances and based on a true story

Jason Biggs's comedy performance

Let me start by saying that I do not normally watch these animal based, Disney family movies (I'm too old for the cheesy kids films really). What tempted me by this film was a magazine review and the fact that it was based on a true story. As it turned out, I was pleasantly surprised!
The story centres around a scientific expedition in the Antarctic searching for meteor rocks. A scientists (Bruce Greenwood) is led to the site by a guide (Paul Walker) and his team of sled dogs. While they are at the site, base camp receives a radio call saying a bad storm is heading their way and to cancel the expedition. The whole camp is evacuated but the helicopter does not have enough room for the sled dogs and they are left behind, (chained up together in the cold weather), on the promise that they will be picked up in a couple of days. The Storm then turns out to be worse than expected and the team cannot take the risk of returning to site and the dogs are reluctantly abandoned. The rest of the film is based on the dogs fight for survival and their guides attempts to get back and save them.
Normally this sort of film is very much aimed at children and can be very sentimental. This one manages to do it in a way that will appeal to all age groups and tells the story very well.
All the cast members perform well, although Jason Biggs can be a little irritating (he's not in in too much though), and the dogs do a great job.
Some scenes may be a little upsetting for smaller children but as an all round family film, this is one of the better ones I have seen.