Nobody does sharp-eyed sex appeal better than Kate Beckinsale.
As demonstrated in the "Underworld" franchise, Beckinsale radiates such a tough intelligence that one forgets her film debut as weepy Hero in 1993's "Much Ado About Nothing." Not only does Beckinsale carry a film, she drives it: propelling the action along even when the screenplay gives her no aid. Which is the case in "Whiteout," a muddled thriller elevated by the presence of actors who could do way better.
Then again, everyone has to pay the rent, and traveling to Antarctica's not so bad either.
Chronicling the quest of a no-nonsense U.S. Marshal (Kate Beckinsale) to track down a thief-turned-murderer at a South Pole research facility, "Whiteout"'s screenplay leaves little to the viewer's imagination, literally spelling out locations onscreen. At the same, the killer's motivation is so details-heavy that it's left largely unclear. The score is annoyingly obvious, and the gorgeous scenery is relied on too much. Also, Beckinsale's character is fierce and empowered: was a fetishized two-minute shower sequence really necessary?
It's the performances, though not necessarily the characters, that stand out in "Whiteout." Tom Skerritt plays a wizened father figure with aplomb. Alex O'Loughlin shines as a sinister Australian partier, and Columbus Short has some nice moments as a pleasant pilot.
Finally, there's Gabriel Macht, as a U.N. operative assisting in Beckinsale's mission. Macht has had a steady if misguided career ("Because I Said So" and "The Spirit," anyone?), and the results are mixed here. In action-oriented scenes, he comes off as more wooden than the "Team America: World Police" marionettes. However, when subtle empathy is required, Macht fares quite well. Perhaps a romantic comedy, a la Nancy Meyers or Nora Ephron, could showcase Macht's warm smile and laid-back aura to its best effect.
Overall, "Whiteout" is TNT Sunday-afternoon fare: not worth the movie-theatre price or maybe even the rental, but a pleasant enough diversion when not much thought or personal investment is desired.
The only extras are two deleted scenes so unremarkable that "special features" almost constitutes false advertising.
Movie: 2.5 Yaps Extras: 0 Yaps
Read our review of "Whiteout" here.