‘The Finest Hours’ Trailer: Chris Pine Battles a Storm

There’s something old fashioned and endearing about the trailer for The Finest Hours that makes us forgive its obvious sins. Like the CGI that doesn’t look quite up to snuff just yet. Or an unfortunate song choice. Or the thick Bah-stun accents that Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Eric Bana are saddled with. But who are we to say no to the totally true tale of a brave Coast Guard who sets out to rescue the crew of an oil tanker that has split in half while a deadly storm rages all around him? That would be like saying no to baseball and apple pie.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (whose bizarre career somehow includes both Mr. Woodcock and the Fright Night remake), The Finest Hours looks like solid entertainment. The fact that the trailer proudly wears the Disney name tells you everything you need to know — this will be a tale of bravery and self-sacrifice, but you can totally take your kids to go see it. There’s nothing unpredictable going on here, but that’s part of the appeal. Sometimes, you just need a movie about brave people doing brave things while facing certain death. Cheesy? Sure, but when done right, this is the kind of entertainment that can make your heart grow a size or two.

Here’s the official synopsis:

On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring operation to rescue the stranded men. Despite overwhelming odds, four men, led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and little, if any, means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves and hurricane-force winds.

The Finest Hours arrives in theaters on January 29, 2016.

Disney