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Sugar Mountain
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Beautiful Alaska locations, but silly story, heavy violence.
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Sugar Mountain
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What's the Story?
In SUGAR MOUNTAIN, brothers Liam (Shane Coffey) and Miles (Drew Roy), and Miles' girlfriend, Lauren (Haley Webb), are trying to run a boating business in Alaska, but they've come on hard times. The reckless Miles cooks up a desperate plan: With help from his more knowledgeable brother, they'll stage Miles' disappearance in the wilderness. And when he returns, they'll sell their story for a ton of money. Unfortunately, the local sheriff -- Lauren's father, Jim Huxley (Cary Elwes) -- suspects something is up. Worse, it turns out that Miles has secretly racked up some gambling debts, and muscular thug Joe Bright (Jason Momoa) has started shoving people around, looking for retribution. Can the trio get out of this mess?
Is It Any Good?
This ridiculous thriller centers on just about the dumbest scheme ever invented for a movie, yet the filmmakers don't show any awareness of the plan's absurdity; it's played dismayingly straight. That might have been excusable, given how reckless and short-sighted Miles is, but Liam is supposed to be smart and to know his way around the woods. Sugar Mountain's entire scheme just doesn't make any sense, and rudimentary mistakes are made.
Attempts to create a love triangle between the brothers, Lauren, and another female character also fall flat; they do seem like friends, but any other feelings are frustratingly opaque. Hardly anyone is even likable. The normally charming Elwes plays a nasty, vindictive sheriff, and Momoa's Joe Bright is an excessively violent thug who seems more animal than man. Director Richard Gray does use the film's Alaska settings well, and despite some uneven moments, Sugar Mountain is technically fine. But storywise, it'll leave you cold.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sugar Mountain's violence. Is it all necessary to the plot? Are the violent scenes thrilling or shocking? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How is sex portrayed in the movie? Is it part of a loving relationship, or is it used for some other purpose? Parents, talk to teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How is drinking treated in the movie? Is it glamorized? Why does that matter?
What does Miles learn during the movie? What decisions does he make? Based on what?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 9, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: January 24, 2017
- Cast: Jason Momoa , Cary Elwes , Shane Coffey
- Director: Richard Gray
- Inclusion Information: Indigenous actors, Polynesian/Pacific Islander actors
- Studio: Screen Media Films
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
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