In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea is a Ron Howard film that takes place during a period when men would routinely leave their wives and their children behind for years at a time to go off to war or to go out at sea on these dangerous hunting expeditions. Back then this kind of lunacy was considered to be the manly thing to do. But how in the world is leaving your woman behind to tend to the land herself a manly act?

Maybe I’m just used to the way things are done today but all I know is that if I go two days without my girlfriend, I’m already dry humping the sofas in the hotel lobby or searching for the nearest sex toy store until I can somehow get on a plane ride back home to her. And if a woman is left to do any manual labor by herself, there’s always some sneaky wolf just waiting in the woods to swoop in and handle your business for you. This is why O.J. went so crazy! I may not own a white Bronco but I do have an SUV and a penchant for crazy white women, so I could easily see myself being chased by a platoon of angry men in horse carraiges while Frederick Douglass and I made a run for it back in the day.

Well once you get passed the fact that aspiring captain Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) decides that it would be a good idea for him to leave his unbelievably hot wife and his unborn child to go off on a two year voyage in search for whale oil, you get settled into the supposedly true story that inspired Herman Melville to write the classic novel Moby Dick.

Chase is the first captain to George Pollard, a man who is only in his position because of his rich father’s influence, on the ship Essex. And early on in their voyage, it’s clear to both the captain and the crew that Chase is really the one who should be in charge as he clearly has a good handle on what to do in critical situations. This of course leads to tension between the two of them. Well after a few minor mishaps the two decide to put their differences aside so that they can collect as much oil as they can and return home to their families.

The only issue is, the waters in the Atlantic have been overrun with like- minded individuals and there is a shortage of whales in the ocean as a result of it. So they head off to the coast of South America in search of this legendary school of whales that should supply them with all they need in one fail swoop. But they do so in spite of the warnings of one Spanish whaler who lost his arm and nearly all of his crew because of the actions of one colossal beast. According to the man, this demon was over 100 feet long and did unimaginable things to protect his homies (my words not his).

Neither Chase nor Pollard believe him of course, that is until they finally run into the school they’ve been so desperately seeking. And when they do, this is when they get their first introduction to the mammal that has caused so many high school kids grief over the past century.

The first half of the film is actually pretty decent as it’s chock full of over the top dramatic moments. Some of which involve the crew’s departures into the sea where Hemworth is leaping around the ship like a monkey, a rather exhilarating scene in which the crew captures its first whale, and then of course there’s the first encounter with the angry and aggressive Moby Dick.

Dick is by far the best part of this film (a phrase that is rarely ever said) as the mere sight of him alone will leave you in awe. The way he taunts and plays with the seamen (I just can’t stop laughing right now) is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. And the fact that you find yourself secretly or maybe even openly cheering for him is a testament to just how awesome of a creature he is.

The problem is, after he appears, there’s still an hour left in the movie. And that’s when the story gets as lost of the whalers in the sea are after their encounter with Dick. You’re forced to deal with Walking Dead level drama and the long and drawn out telling of the tale between the ship’s only known survivor and Melville.

The good thing is that it doesn’t quite undo all of the freshness you experienced in the first half and that’s a rarity when you’re talking about a Ron Howard film. So by all means, go see Heart of the Sea as you will be thoroughly entertained; just know to get yourself some coffee so you are able to make it all the way to the end. If Dick had done something fresh like the "You forgot to say the magic word" finger wag like Newman from Seinfeld does in Jurassic Park, this movie might’ve gotten a rating of tight but as it stands, it will have to settle for a rating of barely FRESH!