Today’s quick review: Outbreak. Colonel Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), an Army virologist, faces a doomsday scenario when an outbreak of a deadly new virus reaches the United States. With the help of his ex-wife Robby (Rene Russo), a doctor at the CDC, Sam attempts to find a cure for the virus before it escapes containment. But their efforts are hindered from above as General Billy Ford (Morgan Freeman) tries to keep a decades-old Army secret.
Outbreak is an action thriller about a viral epidemic and the doctors working to stop it. Dustin Hoffman stars as Sam Daniels, a doctor whose devotion to his work has led to his greatest successes and his greatest failures. Outbreak takes a potentially dry premise and spins it into a solid thriller with a race-against-time plot and surprisingly passionate performances from its cast. The result is a tidy watch that keeps its promises.
Outbreak’s best feature is its plot progression. The outbreak of the disease, tracking it to its origins, and coming up with a cure are all hooks that the film takes advantage of. The added pressures of dying patients, overworked doctors, and an Army cover-up round out the plot nicely. The supporting cast is another draw, with roles for Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Patrick Dempsey, and Donald Sutherland.
While Outbreak skews more dramatic than the typical action thriller, it’s still a few steps away from realism. The movie pays lip service to the issues involved in a real-world epidemic without feeling bound by them. Lab work and quarantine procedures share space in the film with helicopter chases and contrived twists. Outbreak actually does a good job of balancing realism and fantasy, but viewers hoping for a straight drama will be disappointed.
Outbreak is a solid pick for those who want some excitement without diving into full-blown action. Although parts of the film are predictable, and the liberties it takes will rub some viewers the wrong way, Outbreak makes good on its premise. Its plot and its acting make it a full, satisfying watch. For a more factual take on the same subject matter, try Contagion. For a sci-fi action movie with similar elements, try Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid plot progression and a strong cast.