8 DEGREES is the Disney-fied remake of a Japanese movie based on a true story about eight sled dogs left behind in a killer storm. When the folks got back to them many months later, only two were still alive and the fact that any were left alive was pretty damned amazing. In Disney's family-friendly version, those numbers are reversed, and only two perish. I guess they figured the truth would be too much to bear, and to be fair they're probably right. They also couldn't resist having the animals perform and think like humans at times, but at least they don't have them talking in the Queen's English to each other. The dogs themselves are adorable, and Paul Walker is convincing enough as their conscience-stricken boss as he tries desperately to get back to them. Bruce Greenwood is a sympathetic scientist. Jason Biggs plays Walker's geeky sidekick, akin to Archie's Jughead. The "arctic" vistas (with Greenland, Norway, Canada and stage sets standing in for Antartica) are absolutely breathtaking, so mush so that you will be left asking, "How did they film that?" A making-of segment on the DVD explains all. Let's put it this way: It wasn't easy. I was left wondering how it is Bruce Greenwood ended up starring in movies with the titles "Below" and "8 Below." Unfortunately, that is not explained here.
Review of Eight Below
