The Mountain Between Us

When their paths cross in the airport after a flight to Denver is cancelled due to an impending storm, Alex Martin (Kate Winslet) and Ben Bass (Idris Elba) are desperate. She's a photojournalist, frantic to get home for her wedding; he's a British neurosurgeon, determined not to miss urgent surgery on a child. Alex impulsively suggests chartering a small plane and cautious Ben hesitantly agrees. Soon after they are airborne, however, folksy pilot Walter (Beau Bridges) suffers a fatal stroke and the plane smashes into a snowy ridge in northern Utah. Since no flight plan was filed, Alex and Ben are on their own, along with Walter's Golden Labrador. Alex's leg is broken, but Ben sets it so adroitly that she's able to hobble with an improvised cane. Realizing that there is no cell phone service, few supplies, and subzero temperatures to deal with, Alex recites the Rule of Three: “People can survive three days without water, three hours without shelter, and three minutes without air.” Should they stay within the confines of the shattered plane, trusting that there will be a search party, or trek down the slippery slopes and hope to find help? Adapted from Charles Martin's 2010 novel, the story is leisurely helmed by Dutch-Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad, leaving plenty of time for Alex and Ben to bicker and bond, which ignites a sappy, utterly predictable romance in this film that struggles to find a steady pace and tone. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Hany Abu-Assad, deleted scenes (14 min.), the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Love and Survival: Creating Chemistry” (13 min.), “Mountain Between Them: Shooting in Isolation” (10 min.), and “The Wilds: Survival Stunts” (6 min.), and a photo gallery. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an unremarkable drama.] (S. Granger)