Movie Reviews

Ladder 49 isn't terrible in any way, it's just that it's so full of mediocrity and cliches, with an entirely unnecessary ending, that it's kind of hard to take seriously. Jack Morrison (Joaquin Pheonix), captain Mike Kennedy (John Travolta), and the other firefighters from their hall are battling the worst blaze any of them have ever seen. Things get 'too hot', so to speak, and everyone is ordered out of the building. A collapsing floor, however, leaves Jack trapped alone in the burning building with a mild concussion.

Cue the flashback. Yes, the majority of the film is told in 'flashback memories' Jack has as he lies injured inside the burning building, while his buddies outside devise a plan to rescue him. Flashbacks, by their very nature, aren't usually used to advance a plot, and the same holds true in Ladder 49. Of course, this doesn't bode well for the film when most of it is a series of flashbacks. Aside from the thin present-day rescue plot, there really is no other plot to speak of: the flashbacks are just moments in the life and development of Jack as a firefighter, from his early days as a rookie trainee, up to more recent times when, for example, Jack's wife grows increasingly frightened for and angry at Jack for his choice of dangerous professions (I swear this is one of film's most overused cliches!).

Anyway, there are some worthwhile moments in the film. For example, there's definitely great chemistry between the firefighters, there's some decent comedic moments, and the special effects and fire photography are impressive. But (apologies in advance) the whole thing is pretty lukewarm.