Rated PG-13

Based on a true story, LAST BREATH follows a team of divers servicing an underwater pipeline. During a rough storm, one of them is trapped at the bottom or the ocean with oxygen quickly running out.

These rescue movies always struggle to balance between reality and Hollywood flash. Too much flash, and you have a silly, over-the-top Michael Bay movie. Too much reality and you can drown the audience in minutia.

For the most part, LAST BREATH presents a realistic rescue mission, which is commendable but it threatens to undercut the thrills and dangers. It doesn’t over-sensationalizes, but the detail does get a bit much at times.

The cast is good, though they are saddled with a rough script that dumps character exposition at the start before settling into basic archetypes. Still, they do the best with what they’ve got.

I’m not a huge fan of movies like this, and some clunky editing results in awkward pacing. But if you’re into films about the triumph of the human spirit and all that jazz, you should enjoy this one.

LAST BREATH gets three SCUBA tanks out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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