Family audiences are in for a treat with this live-action Disney adventure from Alive director Frank Marshall. A canine-centred thrill ride about friendship, loyalty and survival, the film is essentially a remake of the reality-based 1983 Japanese blockbuster Nankyoku Monogatari (aka Antarctica). In a likeable performance, Paul Walker plays the guide to a group of Antarctic researchers who has developed a close bond with his eight skilled sled dogs. Narrowly escaping a fatal accident, thanks to their help, he's devastated when treacherous weather conditions force the whole team to evacuate, leaving his "kids" stranded in the frozen wilds. The beautifully shot scenes that unfold, as the resourceful mutts battle to stay alive for more than six months, calculatingly embrace every emotion, incorporating humour, pathos and - parents beware - unexpected scares. It's an exciting and enthralling mix, only slumping when the tale cuts back to Walker trying to put together a rescue mission in America.