Adrift - Review

Adrift

Starring up and coming actress Shailene Woodley (The Descendants, Fault in Our Stars &, Divergent films) and Sam Catlin (Me Before You, The Hunger Games films), ADRIFT is based on the 1983 inspiring true story of two sailors who set out to journey across the ocean from Tahiti to San Diego. Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Catlin) couldn't anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved. ADRIFT is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.

REVIEW: After watching this movie let me tell you the Pacific Ocean is nothing to mess around with. And even through the back drop of a typical by the book love story between young Tami and Richard, ADRIFT still works pretty damn well in retelling their amazing story of survival on a boat severely damaged and with Richard seriously injured for 41 days.

Now the film did have it moments where it was excessively slow mostly from a few too many irrelevant conversations that were either totally unforgettable or just mundane in my opinion. But even through those moments of foggy dialogue the collective effort from the acting, the writing and the directing still brings the story to life in a way that made it a refreshing thrilling adventure leaving you aghast anyone ever survived to tell this tale.

But the real plus to ADRIFT is actress Shailene Woodley who navigates the story with a strong emotional connection to both the audience and the events itself that in the end showcases something rare in the way of leading female character. Specifically someone who was at times very emotional and very vulnerable was also someone very much fully independent, fully capable, very noble and fully determined to work endlessly in finding her way home. Woodley in deed showed me something today for someone who is only 26 in Hollywood ……………..she is really a gifted talented actress. 

ADRIFT is very similar to the Robert Redford 2013 film tiled “All Is Lost”. A fictional story about one person trying to survive minute to minute on a damaged boat in the Pacific Ocean. And while I believe Redford’s effort is the far superior (I recommend renting it if you have not seen it) Woodley’s film (she is the Executive Producer) still makes a very solid emotionally appeal to its audience through its entire 2 hour running time that was authentic and captivating every step of the way. 

ADRIFT is equally a hard to believe story and an equally definite worth a sailing adventure to the theater to see.

3.25 Stars