A pair of mismatched rock climbers must learn to work together to conquer one of the world's most treacherous mountains in this adventure tale. After rescuing a wealthy man (Dabney Coleman), solo climbers Michael (Ned Vaughn) and Derrick (Jason George) are rewarded with a chance to summit Mount Chicanagua in Chile. Risk-taker Derrick clashes with safety-conscious Michael, but in order to live through the ordeal they must figure out how to work as a team.
2002. Produced by World Wide Pictures, an arm of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, THE CLIMB features breathtaking scenery as it advances a clearly religious agenda. When Derrick Williams (Jason George) and Michael Harris (Ned Vaughn) suddenly find themselves cast as local heroes, they are given the chance of a lifetime: to climb one of the most difficult mountains in the Andes. The two young men are forced to work together despite vastly different belief systems and personalities, giving rise to complications and disputes along the way. Derrick is a bitter, non-believing daredevil, while Michael is a devout Christian, who always opts for the safer route. Dabney Coleman (DOMINO), Todd Bridges (DIFF'RENT STROKES), and Clifton Davis (AMEN) round out the supporting cast of this fast-paced Christian film. 99 Minutes, DVD.
The Climb
A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2002 filmcritic.com
This is no piece of pop culture camp -- this is a serious melodrama about mountain climbing and God, courtesy of World Wide Pictures, aka The Motion Picture Ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Unbeknownst to me, Billy's quite a movie producer -- with such recent titles as Something to Sing About and the Rat Race-takeoff Road to Redemption.
The Climb is Billy's version of Vertical Limit, with two at-odds climbers given a chance to climb Mt. Chicanagua in Chile (which is apparently a very big mountain) all at the behest of the owner of a Wal-Mart-ish chain of stores, Mack Leonard (Coleman), who is using the boys as a publicity stunt. Derrick (Jason George) is a daring all-me type, without a care in the world and nothing but enmity for everyone around him. But Ned (Michael Harris, the spitting image of a younger David Caruso) is a sad widower, believing in safety first and teamwork -- and of course, he's a huge fan of good old J.C. These two are forced to work together on the treacherous climb -- and they don't have an easy time of it, but see if you can guess who'll make a symbolic personal sacrifice... and who'll make a dramatic conversion to Christianity before it's all over.
Sure, it's a Billy Graham production, but to be honest, I've seen far worse movies. Thankfully this is a far cry from apocolyptic nonsense like Left Behind, and while the religion can get thick, it's not generally the focus of the film.
To be sure, The Climb will appeal strictly to the Born Again crowd (and fans of Todd 'Willis' Bridges!), but it's about time the ultra-religious right got a movie they can be proud of.
