The potential of crumbling limestone landscapes poses a geological threat to the mountainous region of an age-old Chinese town — and the high speed railroad that runs through it. What separates Cloudy Mountain from Hollywood disaster films of yore? Not much. Cliffhangers, rock climbers, stowaways, pointless time-stamps designed to add a hint of docudrama. Gritted teeth, stoic exchanges, and one dopier action scene after another combine to provide a regular stream of adventitious chortles. Dad’s rescue attempt results in a packed tour bus crashing to the bottom of the earth — with him in it. It’s at this point that the hubbub subsides long enough for the formation of a subterranean soap opera. Writer-director Jun Li sparks an unfortunate “love me daddy” dynamic between father (Huang Zhi-zhong) and son (Zhu Yilong) spelunkers. A running flashback details an accidental drowning that leaves the son with a mile-wide guilt streak (and audiences praying for someone to toss them a lifeline). The CG effects may be more convincing than Tidal Wave — no paper clips were used to sustain the miniature town — and the scope more localized than the threat of world-wide calamity often associated with the genre, but when it comes to plotting and character development, this is strictly Irwin Allen. (2021) — Scott Marks
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