Adrift

*

Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

Adrift
"Just because Tami's story is true doesn't make it worth watching"

Robert Redford did it better in All Is Lost. Man and boat against the elements, against the sea. For landlubbers it was about survival. The Sundance Kid in waterproofs. Go, Bobby, go!

Shailene Woodley is from the futuristic Allegiant action franchise. She has the moves, a tomboy who grew up into a girl warrior with kick boxing skills.

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Confused? Not any more. In Adrift, another boat against the sea movie, she plays Tami, a 24-year-old Californian free spirit, who picks up jobs here and there and stays positive about life and everything.

On the dock of a marina in some hot, exotic country she meets Richard (Sam Claflin) who is sailing the boat he built - when you see it you will be impressed. They hang out, eat meals, talk rubbish, go goose bumpy, kiss.

Suddenly they are on the ocean, infatuated in that uncritical blind-leading-the-bland kind of way, and it's nauseating. But these are selected flashbacks. The film starts after a hurricane has practically scuppered his boat. Tami is slopping about in the hold with floating debris. Richard is overboard. It looks bad, especially since Tami is not a sailor. She can pull a rope when told but doesn't know what it does.

Just because her story is true doesn't make it worth watching. Richard is a nice looking boring guy. She's a blonde looking boring gal. Once the weather improves and Richard's body has been recovered, which turns out to be injured and yet capable of gasping. "My ribs are broken" and "I love you", there's nothing for it but to lie tight and wait for rescue.

This takes weeks. Time for another flashback. And another. The question is, are the memories any better than running out of water and food and wondering whether Richard's gangrene is going to put an end to it?

There is a twist.

Did you hear? Something unexpected happens. You couldn't care less?

Copy that!

Reviewed on: 28 Jun 2018
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Adrift packshot
Young and in love and lost at sea after a hurricane has practically destroyed their boat Tami and Richard struggle to survive as they wait for rescue.
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Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Writer: Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell, David Branson Smith, based on the book by Tami Oldham Ashcraft

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Grace Palmer, Jeffrey Thomas, Tami Ashcraft, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Kael Damlamian, Zac Beresford, Luna Campbell, Siale Tunoka

Year: 2018

Runtime: 96 minutes

BBFC: 12A - Adult Supervision

Country: US

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If you like this, try:

All Is Lost