[yasr_overall_rating]
Based on the true story of survival, a young couple’s chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.
Shailene Woodley (“Divergent”) is all too believable as shipwreck victim Tami Oldham. Her ability to mold to her role of a drifter in love, along with Sam Claflin, sets her apart as an actress with talent. Sam Claflin’s knack for on-screen chemistry, as he demonstrated with Emilia Clarke in “Me Before You,” returns as his character Richard falls for a younger woman. Other people play bit parts but are only filler to gain speed in the couple’s love story. The sad events forming the timeline of her life come to the screen in the wake of a novel written by the real Tami herself.
The true story of Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp is told in tandem, the love story side by side with the loss story. On a boat dock in Tahiti, the two meet and fall into the trap of love back in the early eighties. Both love the water, sailing, and leaving the real world behind for the freedom of traveling the seas to unknown destinations. As their love story unfolds, an opportunity to make enough money to continue their life as drifters drops into their laps. They begin their first trip sailing toward San Diego, Tami’s home, alone on the ocean when a storm drifts onto the horizon.
The storm breaches the waters, throwing their luxury yacht into a tumultuous spiral almost sinking it. Richard lands in the water as Tami goes below deck seeking safety. Hours later, she awakes among debris and water flooding the interior of the yacht. The storm is over but has left a mess in its wake. Scrambling to the deck, Tami searches for Richard only to find him on a dingy, unconscious, several miles from the boat. She repairs the boat enough to allow her to steer in his direction and rescue him to find him severely injured from the storm. For the next few weeks, Tami nurses her love back to life. Amongst the wreckage, she finds food, water, and tries to call for help. With their original destination riddled with storms, they change course and drift toward Hawaii on the injured yacht.
Ten days pass, then twenty, then forty before a land bird drops in to say hello. Finally home, Tami has to cope with the injuries Richard incurred during the journey along with finding her way home. Would their love and injuries be able to survive the storm that threatened to end everything they loved? Shailene became the sunburned, weathered skin, hardcore, fix-a-yacht role model. Man, if you need someone to idolize, pick Tami. How she even did the math to figure out her location was impressive, let alone drain the water, fixing the sail and tending to Richard’s wounds made her a hero who did not give up in the face of a terrible storm. So few are the people who stay tough in the face of disaster, Tami is one of the strong relentless examples of women who never give up, never give in, no matter the circumstances trying to force her down. While I would not watch this movie again, what a beautiful film, showcasing someone’s strength and love.
Everything about the movie was handled with care and beauty. The one major plot twist felt unnatural but only on the surface, deep down it I knew it was a needed addition, I just wish it had felt a little less forced. If you love the water, Tami’s memories will give you a healthy respect for weather’s ability to terrorize even the best sailors. Take the time to see “Adrift” in the theater, you won’t regret the choice to see the majesty of the sea at work.
In theaters Friday, June 1st
