Falls short of capturing the impact of the 'real' footage.

Rating: 6/10 (23 April 2013)

"The Impossible" is a solid, well-made disaster film, based on a true story, fueled by the human spirit fighting for survival with fine performances, especially by Naomi Watts. The tsunami sets up the story line for the rest of the film--a catastrophic situation that allows the audience a sense of the aftermath of such an overwhelming natural disaster. However, "The Impossible" soon becomes a painful experience to endure; and not for the reasons one might expect either. "The Impossible" feels every bit as average, never rising above its own genre conventions--but it compensates with fine performances and outstanding realistic effects.
Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) decide to spend Christmas with their three children in Thailand, hoping to enjoy a festive season complete with sunshine and exotic beaches. However and without warning, a massive Tsunami crashes into the coastline, separating the family, leaving them to face one of the most devastating natural disasters of modern times. The first half of the movie unfolds as a survivalist picture, pitting the characters against horrific and devastating conditions--creating gripping suspense through the process. There are inspirational moments of perseverance, families reuniting, people pulling together, and overcoming obstacles. The film's most dramatic sequences focus on Lucas (Todd Holland), assigning himself the role of his mother's lifeguard and protector.
However, as the film continues into the second act, it becomes slightly disjointed with a sense of seamless wandering as it stumbles toward its denouement. As the husband, separated from his wife and searching for her, McGregor finds himself walking aimlessly and completely hopeless. He does a lot of tripping and falling through floors and screaming. Through McGregor's role, he encounters others adrift and injured searching for family members, and this introduction to a broader story makes this families' story seem a bit more trivial. What Juan Antonio Bayona is trying to do with "The Impossible" is honorable and well done, but does absolutely nothing with an endless number of possibilities. Simply put, it just gets boring after a while. The tsunami that slams into their resort happens in the first 15 minutes of the movie, and it is the most exciting part of the entire film. Their characters exist to serve as a component guiding the narrative that takes us on a "tour" of the aftermath caused by the tsunami. Not to take anything away from Naomi Watts outstanding performance.
When watching the actual footage and material online and listening to the real victims and their gut-wrenching stories, it leaves one stunned in disbelief. In comparison, the movie falls short of capturing that genuine, raw emotion of astonishment and incredulity.