So two highly educated but apparently quite stupid people, she a conflict-zone photo-journalist; he, an eminent neuro-surgeon; take the decision to charter a flight between them to get to Denver before midnight.  This, despite the fact the weather has caused all other departing commercial flights to be cancelled and the pilot is an extremely doddery Vietnam vet with barely enough breath to wheeze, let alone breathe who calmly assures them that there is no need to file a flight plan (surely there is a law about this?)

But they suspend their better instincts because they have to get to Denver: she to be married the next day, he to perform surgery on a 10 year old patient.  Personally, I think her excuse holds no water at all, and as for the doctor, well even I could see that the aged pilot was on his last legs and should at least have a co-pilot (not withstanding that the dog, which accompanied them and did sit in the co-pilot’s seat, was utterly delightful!)

Of course the pilot keels over, they crash very high in the mountains and no one knows where they are ‘cause they haven’t let their nearest and dearest know their new travel plans, and there is no flight plan on file etc. etc.  She’s a bit hurt, but fortunately he’s a medic…so all good there…and the dog without a name survives and indeed must not die because without him the picture would be a goner!

So they struggle against all odds to get out, thinking that they’re going to die anyway, but they have to die trying to survive at least.  The dog (and its double), a beautiful golden lab, happily bounces through the whole 1hr 52min with its tail wagging, fighting off cougars and chasing bunnies. No way can that dog die, people would walk out of the cinema!

It’s got a fairly predictable Hollywood happy ending, which I will not reveal in case you are still tempted to see the film – so far as I’m concerned as long as the dog survived the outcome is a happy one!

RATING out of 5 Stars

Story     **
Writing **
Scenery ******        (extra star for Idris, the mountains were nice too!)
Acting    ***
Dog       ********** (did I mention I liked the dog!)