Today’s quick review: The Perfect Storm. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), a Massachusetts fisherman struggling to make his quota, risks everything when he takes his boat out for one last run before the end of the season. Bobby Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and the rest of the crew leave their loved ones behind to go with him, only to run into a devastating hurricane on their way home.
The Perfect Storm is a disaster movie loosely based on a true story. George Clooney stars as the captain of a fishing boat who braves stormy seas to turn around his ailing fortunes. Mark Wahlberg co-stars as a rookie fisherman torn between the sea and his girlfriend Christina (Diane Lane). The movie successfully depicts the dangerous life a fisherman and the fury of a record-breaking storm, but its execution leaves something to be desired.
The Perfect Storm has a few points in its favor. Visually, the movie is impressive. Massive waves, perpetual rain, and the perils of a fishing boat all come to life in a vivid way. The movie also captures the more ordinary aspects of a fisherman’s life, from the long trips away from home to the hard and uncertain work required to catch the fish. Meanwhile, the storm is a dramatic enough threat to work as the centerpiece of the film.
Unfortunately, The Perfect Storm lays it on a little thick. The main culprit is an overbearing soundtrack that drowns out the film’s quieter moments and competes with, rather than complements, the intense ones. But even without the soundtrack, The Perfect Storm overplays its hand. The character drama is too transparent and formulaic to be fully effective, while the main action scenes drag on long enough that they lose their impact.
The Perfect Storm delivers on action and spectacle, but its best moments have a hard time standing out. If you are in the mood for something more realistic than the average disaster movie, The Perfect Storm is a fine pick. Its cast, subject matter, and visuals all give it a decent foundation. But issues with its character work, pacing, and presentation make it a frustrating pick for the wrong viewer. Approach with caution.
For another Mark Wahlberg movie based on real events, try Patriots Day. For a very different story of survival at sea, try Cast Away. For a more contrived but more fun disaster movie about a record-breaking storm, try Twister.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177971/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for compelling material that doesn’t reach its full potential.