Adrift Blu-ray Review

By: Lynn Barker 

In Adrift, after meeting in a gorgeous, tropical setting, 23-year-old Tami (Shailene Woodley) and slightly older Richard (Sam Claflin) fall in love and, looking for adventure, agree to sail a rich couple’s yacht from Tahiti to San Diego, Ca. At first, it is sooo romantic but they have no idea that they are sailing directly into a humungous hurricane. Can either of them survive?

Tami and Richard are in loveCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Meeting in Tahiti

It is the early 1980’s and Tami, an adventurous 20-something from San Diego, is determined to stay free and travel the world, mostly by boat since she is a decent sailor. She arrives in Tahiti and takes on odd jobs on a dock where she meets dashing Brit Richard who has built his own boat and sails it into port. The duo starts dating and fall head-over-keel in love. She is even more adventurous than he is. He gifts her a gorgeous dress.

Should we go on a sailing adventure?Courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Sailing Away?

Old friends of Richard’s, headed to London, ask if he will take $10,000 to sail their luxury yacht from Tahiti to San Diego and he doesn’t have to think twice. He’s in love with Tami and she isn’t ready to face the folks back home yet.  But, love triumphs and she agrees. They’ve only known each other for five months but they are off on the couples’ ship to San Diego for a romantic adventure.

Richard is the man of Tami's dreamsCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Weather Horrors

Tami and Richard grow closer on the voyage and he asks Tami to marry him, giving her a hand-made ring. She agrees. A bad weather warning turns gradually worse and the duo is caught in a huge hurricane. They fight every inch of the way until, seeing a 100-foot wave coming, Richard finally tells Tami she must go below deck. She is basically knocked there and he is knocked overboard.

Weather is getting worseCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Survival?

When Tami wakes, she finds the boat almost full of water and no Richard in sight. She tries the radio but gets no responses. The masts are broken and the sails are overboard and dragging the boat down. With binoculars, Tami spots Richard floating on a piece of wreckage and manages to haul him aboard. He has broken ribs, internal injuries and a badly broken leg. She sets the leg and gathers food, using a sextant, she sees that they are far north of San Diego. They should turn west and try for Hawaii. Richard gives her pep talks. She can do anything!

Tami tries to save RichardCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

After 41 Days

After finding a little food and some bottled water, Tami might survive. Sam keeps giving her helpful advice although he is getting weaker. She tries to spear fish to eat but isn’t successful. It rains, increasing the needed water supply. She plays guitar weakly, remember a song Richard wrote for her. A huge tanker passes the small yacht and almost capsizes it but those aboard don’t see the adrift couple. Tami has almost given up. They are off course again. She sleeps but hears Richard’s voice telling her to get up!

Richard helps Tami surviveCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Will They Make It?

Will the couple make it to land? Will Tami realize that she is much stronger and capable than she ever believed she could be? Is there a future for these young adventurers?

Special Extra Features

• Deleted Scenes – there are two beautiful-looking scenes that were likely cut for time.
• “Gift”- On the voyage, gorgeous Polynesian natives row out to the sailboat to trade gifts of fruit and flowers with Tami and Richard.  Looks just beautiful
• “Halfway”- reaching the halfway point of the voyage, Richard opens a bottle of champagne and the couple sees a whale. Very romantic.
• Survival at Sea, Braving the Elements and Journey are all little promotional videos to sell the film but they include Shailene and Sam talking about their characters based on real people, we see the harrowing job of actually shooting the movie at sea where everyone got seasick and the actors reveal why there were drawn to tell the story etc. Overall, interesting enough.
• Audio Commentary by Director and Shailene Woodley is full of insider info and interesting anecdotes on making the movie. Well worth a listen. It is rare and nice that an actor does these commentaries but Shailene was also a producer on the movie.

Shailene talks with her directorCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Wrapping Up

Adrift is a beautifully-shot adventure at sea with a convincing romance and an amazing performance by Shailene Woodley. The fact that is a true story makes it even more amazing.  Constant cutting back and forth from past to present is a little jarring but you can still follow the story and get ready for a real twist.

Shailene is convincing as desperate TamiCourtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

This Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack provides a great-looking and sounding film. Extras are pretty thin, mostly short “selling” videos to promote the movie but all are interesting and all include the actors talking about their roles and the experience. 

We gave the film in theaters four stars but because of the lack of “real” “making-of” extras here, we go three for the video.

Adrift Blu-ray Rating: 

Courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

You can take Adrift Blu-ray home now!

Give Us Your Opinion!

Did you see this exciting and romantic film in theaters? Could you be on a boat in a storm and not get seasick? What do you think about adventure at sea? Leave a comment here or write your own comments/review on your profile page. We always want to hear from you!