The Ice Road movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: The Ice Road

This chilly thriller is now available on Netflix.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 49 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

This dramatic action thriller is now available on Netflix. I confess that I’m a Liam Neeson fan. I also readily admit that this is a pretty silly movie, but still liked it because Liam Neeson is in it.

After a remote diamond mine collapses in far northern Canada, a ‘big-rig’ ice-road driver must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the trapped miners.

THINGS I LIKED:

At first, I laughed when I thought that the aging Liam Neeson was going to be conveniently seated in a truck during the entire movie, but he actually has a lot of stunts and does what he does best: kick bad-guy butt. He’s great at playing the Everyday Man with a heart…and a certain set of skills.
I don’t think I’ve seen Benjamin Walker in anything since Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Amber Midthunder plays Tantoo and was actually in Liam Neeson’s most recent film The Marksman. She played the gas station clerk who gave him the roadmap for free. I didn’t recognize her at all.
The movie was filmed in Manitoba, Canada.
I never knew ice roads over the water were a thing. Wow. Yikes! I thought it was funny when each of the truck drivers placed a bobblehead on their dashboard. Then, I learned the toys actually served a serious purpose.
I always love it when movies show the Aurora Borealis in the sky. Seeing that in real life is on my Bucket List! I had to cancel a trip to see it when Covid broke out, but I’m now rescheduled to see it by the end of this year! We’re going to Iceland!

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I thought the movie would be much better because it also had Laurence Fishburne in it. What is it lately with Hollywood stars showing up in terrible movies?
Did you know Marcus Thomas, who plays Gurty in the movie (Liam Neeson’s brother) was born in Belgium? Unfortunately, he sure doesn’t know how to pick the right scripts. All but 2 of his movies have terrible scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some of the acting is pretty bad.
I don’t know anything about ice road trucking or mining and even I knew how they portrayed those industries in the movie didn’t seem accurate.
I couldn’t understand a single word Amber Medthunder said during the entire movie. She spoke super fast and slurred her words so much that it was annoying and then became laughable. Terrible casting.
Some bad CGI moments with obvious green-screen shoots.
Very predictable.
Terrible script with completely unrealistic scenes that defy the rules of physics.
Awkward dialogue.
My husband and I laughed out loud many times because the movie is so bad. Still, laughing together is always time well spent.
Unfortunately, it will be instantly forgettable.

THE ICE ROAD (L-R): BENJAMIN WALKER SCODELARIO-DAVIS as VARNAY, AMBER THUNDER ROSE MIDTHUNDER as TANTOO, MARCUS THOMAS as GURTY, LIAM NEESON as MIKE. CR: NETFLIX © 2021

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Violence
People in perilous situations
Some people die
Lots of destruction

THEMES:

Corruption
Greed
Money
Family
Courage
Hope
Trust

STUPID LINE:

“You’ll know when I’m hungry. It’s very unattractive.” – Tantoo (Amber Midthunder) “You get cranky?” – Varnay (Benjamin Walker) “Worse. I act white.” – Tantoo