The Mountain Between Us

Two strangers meet at an airport when they learn that their mutual flight has been cancelled. With Alex (Winslet) due to marry the next day, and Ben (Elba), a neurosurgeon, due to operate at the same time, they decide to hire out a private plane to get them home in time. But when the pilot experiences a stroke mid-flight, their plane crashes into the mountains, killing the pilot and leaving both Alex and Ben injured and alone on the snowy peaks, with nothing but each other – and the pilot’s nameless dog - to survive the elements.  

This isn’t the first time two award-winning A-listers have been forced to work together against the almighty Mother Nature (Harrison Ford and Anne Heche’s plane crash that was Six Days and Seven Nights in 1998 comes to mind), and it probably won’t be the last. That said, there are some overlooked gems out there, namely 1997’s The Edge starring Alec Baldwin and Sir Anthony Hopkins. But here, the biggest problem is that the acting seems as wooden as the trees that fill the screen yet nowhere near as natural.

Don't worry - Kate is no stranger to freezing conditions...

As the film goes on, a reluctant romance blossoms between Alex and Ben as they hike from the mountains down into the valleys to look for civilisation, but there’s barely enough chemistry to keep you awake let alone spark a fire. In short, there’s no emotion, nor is the situation they’re in moving or convincing. On first glance it might seem like the kind of film you want to cosy up to, but there's nothing heartwarming here. 

With the likes of Winslet and Elba in the lead, though, you’d expect something with at least some heart or atmosphere. And while the title also suggests that the film is about two people who are trying to find each other in the wilderness – which would have at least thrown in an interesting dynamic - The Mountain Between Us, in hindsight, seems to speak more of the awkward distance between the actors than it does anything else.

With just two stars and one dog and therefore minimal dialogue, somehow less would have still been more. After all, Tom Hanks did a much better job saying next to nothing while doting over a volleyball. Enough said. 

For my full audio review which was aired on Swindon 105.5, click here.