The Lost Bus

Within the framework of a cheesy throwback disaster epic, The Lost Bus is sharply crafted and tightly focused enough to generate some heat.

Anchored by a sympathetic performance by Matthew McConaughey, this thriller inspired by real-life events from director Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips) is a stirring tale of courage and determination against seemingly insurmountable odds.

The story is set during the tragic 2018 Camp Fire in the forests of northern California, which threatened to wipe out the entire town of Paradise almost without warning, with daunting weather conditions fanning the flames.

McConaughey plays Kevin, a school-bus driver facing a host of problems closer to home. He’s grieving the death of his estranged father, has to put his dog down, is struggling to connect with his teenage son (Levi McConaughey), and is on thin ice with his supervisor (Ashlie Atkinson).

So when he responds to a call for picking up 22 children stranded at an elementary school, it could provide helpful redemption. But as the situation worsens rapidly and evacuating traffic is at a standstill, Kevin and a resourceful teacher (America Ferrera) must care for the children while collaborating to find a way to safety.

Given the harrowing subject matter, it’s easy to establish a rooting interest. As the blaze intensifies, so does the movie’s level of tension and urgency. The sense of dread and desperation feels relentless, even if we’ve seen these sorts of wildfire sagas before.

The screenplay by Greengrass and Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back) employs melodramatic embellishments to escalate the emotional stakes with mixed results.

It’s clunky in setting up the rescue scenario from a narrative standpoint. The periphery characters — including first responders, school administrators, and panicked parents — are thinly sketched in an effort to integrate various points of view.

The film feels more authentic in chronicling how quickly institutional order and procedure can break down into panic-stricken anarchy during times of crisis and emergency. Still, it maintains hope under such helpless circumstances.

McConaughey gives Kevin a relatable compassion and humanity amid the chaos. Visually, the film is highlighted by the vivid and intense sequences inside the inferno, fueled by drone footage and special effects to heighten the danger.

Even if it’s ultimately a slick exercise in style over substance, The Lost Bus is just plausible enough to keep us engaged. It deserves to be found.

Rated R, 129 minutes.