This new action flick from Martin Campbell is a technically well crafted picture with a B-movie mentality. It features many perilous, white knuckler action sequences, breathtaking mountain top vistas, and gorgeous aerial views of spectacular landscapes, yet every time a character utters a piece of dialogue, you want to throw a muzzle on their mouth.

Chris O'Donnell's character was a great mountain climber until an unforeseen tragedy makes him lose his nerve and forces him into early retirement. When his sister becomes trapped in a cavern somewhere high on K-2 (the world's second highest peak), O'Donnell returns to the sport he once loved in an attempt to rescue the trapped climber and her companions. Of course, time is a factor, as they will surely die if O'Donnell doesn't reach them within thirty-two hours.

In typical fashion, Vertical Limit is a calculated actioneer that piles one trial upon another until it reaches the point of absurdity. It's bad enough that these climbers are battling nature's elements. Throw into the mix explosives that have to be kept out of sunlight, a grizzled pro climber with a hidden agenda, and another character (who I will not reveal in this review) who will do anything to survive. It is, however, all in the name of action, and when Campbell skips the chit chat, Vertical Limit is pretty exciting. Campbell is no stranger to the world of action. He made Goldeneye, The Mask of Zorro, and an Australian gem called No Escape. He creates moments of sheer intensity in this film.

Unfortunately, Campbell's working with a ridiculous screenplay and an uncharismatic cast headed by O'Donnell and Robin Tunney. Neither actor is able to breathe life into their one dimensional characters. On the other hand, this film is about adventure and that overshadows everything else in the picture. I guess Campbell hoped that the audience might care about his characters so that the tension would be heightened. This doesn't work. It actually bogs the film down. Even Scott Glenn and Bill Paxton are laughable and over the top. Still, give Campbell credit for making the action scenes work.

Vertical Limit lacks the constistently brisk pace of Cliffhanger, the gritty realism of K-2, and the emotional pull and inspiration of Alive. It's also a pretty unbelievable movie, but I've got to tell you, I sort of enjoyed it for what it was. A witless, but loud action picture, with some really great jump-out-of-your-seat moments.