This is first and foremost a formula, grade B, made for TV catastrophe movie. If you approach it with that in mind, I think you just might enjoy it. Heavy snow load, torrential rain in the mountains, and a faulty dam. You've seen it all before - but it almost always works. This one stars Bruce Boxleitner as the corrupt engineer. He is very good at it. I haven't seen him in anything remarkable since "The Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and I missed him. This is hardly a step up, but he does a credible job. Michele Greene is adequate as the town's interim mayor who has to believe in her disgraced ex-husband's prediction that the dam will fail or risk the fate of all the town's residents.
A couple of those made for TV plot gaps. First, there seems to be only 2 people running this huge dam. Next, when there is a minor breech, they both leave the nuclear reactor size console to run down and investigate. Who the hell is watching the store? Finally, the kid who plays the intern, and looks like he's about 12 years old, plays a major role in trying to prevent the inevitable catastrophe. In real life, no one would pay any attention to him.
That all said, it's still an entertaining movie. If you're depressed, neurotic, or terminally ill, it's a great way to escape.
A couple of those made for TV plot gaps. First, there seems to be only 2 people running this huge dam. Next, when there is a minor breech, they both leave the nuclear reactor size console to run down and investigate. Who the hell is watching the store? Finally, the kid who plays the intern, and looks like he's about 12 years old, plays a major role in trying to prevent the inevitable catastrophe. In real life, no one would pay any attention to him.
That all said, it's still an entertaining movie. If you're depressed, neurotic, or terminally ill, it's a great way to escape.