The Boys in the Boat

The steering remains straight in The Boys in the Boat, which works out better for the titular vessel than for the film.

This crowd-pleasing underdog saga from director George Clooney adheres closely to formula — from the hard-charging coach to the intense stakes to the unforeseen obstacles that threaten to derail success. The Depression-era backdrop provides a slight twist, although this stylish period drama tugs too aggressively at the heartstrings.

At the time, college was typically reserved for students whose families were able to withstand widespread socioeconomic hardships. However, University of Washington freshman Joe (Callum Turner) doesn’t have the resources to pay his tuition.

He hears of a chance to make some quick cash on the school’s elite rowing team, but that will require beating out dozens of other hopefuls during exhaustive tryouts for roster spots. “The average human body is not made for such things, but average won’t earn a spot in my boat,” barks coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton).

Eventually, Joe secures a role in the junior-varsity scull led by a mercurial coxswain (Luke Slattery) who unlocks the potential in Joe and his teammates, with the goal of taking down a rival boat from the University of California and earning a longshot bid to represent the United States at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Securing a medal is about more than oarsmanship, given the internal and external pressures, along with the financial setbacks that threaten to drown their ambitions.

The sequences on the water convey some fine craftsmanship and visceral thrills as a mostly unheralded ensemble cast spotlights the physical and mental challenges of a grueling sport.

Along the way, it spotlights an endearing batch of characters both inside and outside the boat. Joe’s personal subplot represents working-class tenacity rather than privilege during a time when such messaging really resonated.

Meanwhile, the embellished screenplay by Mark Smith (The Revenant), adapted from the novel by Daniel James Brown, is effective in spots yet struggles to sustain tension for those who already know the outcome.

Aside from its setting, the film is a throwback to an era of purity in college athletics, before it become overrun by big-money commercialism and greedy corporate interests.

The Boys in the Boat salutes teamwork and camaraderie, and you can’t help but feel a patriotic surge during the obligatory nail-biting finale. But prior to that, it barely remains afloat.

Rated PG-13, 124 minutes.