Today’s quick review: Poseidon. On New Year’s Eve, a massive rogue wave capsizes the luxury cruise ship Poseidon, killing most of its passengers and crew and leaving it floating upside-down in the water. Dylan (Josh Lucas), a pragmatic gambler, and Robert (Kurt Russell), the former mayor of New York, lead a group of survivors on a desperate climb to reach the hull of the ship so they can find a way out.
Poseidon is a disaster thriller set aboard a capsized cruise ship. Among the chaos and the wreckage, a small band of determined survivors search for an exit. Poseidon features robust special effects that capture the magnitude of the disaster, a cast of resourceful characters, and a knack for tension and pacing. Although Poseidon has some limits to what it can do, the movie’s solid execution makes it a worthwhile watch.
Poseidon avoids the twin disaster movie traps of unlikable characters and repetitive obstacles. Poseidon’s characters are not perfect, but they hit a sweet spot between vulnerable and competent. The disaster tests them in various ways, but it doesn’t break their resolve. The group also has a couple of nice dynamics within it, such as the tension between Robert, his daughter Jenny (Emmy Rossum), and her boyfriend Chris (Mike Vogel).
Poseidon also scores with its obstacles. The ship capsizing and the internal destruction it causes are visually impressive, and the special effects hold up remarkably well. Poseidon also finds interesting things to do with its premise. The architecture of the ship becomes a deadly obstacle course full of live wires, gas leaks, and flooded compartments, providing enough variety to keep the danger fresh throughout.
The result is a movie that delivers exactly what it promises. Watch Poseidon when you’re in the mood for something thrilling, packed with close calls and tough decisions. The movie does not excel with its story or its characters, but it has the right tools and uses them well. For the original film, check out The Poseidon Adventure. For another disaster movie set at sea from the same director, try The Perfect Storm.
[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409182/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid execution of an interesting premise.