No need to chill out to this film

Despite many failing elements, "Eight Below" is a better than bad Disney movie that lends for a fun watch.\nThe movie begins with the last Antarctic expedition before the dreaded winter strikes. Gerry Shepard (Paul Walker) is a guide for the National Science Research Base. We see early on that he loves his eight sled canines and they have a very close relationship. Davis McClaren (Bruce Greenwood) is a scientist searching for meteorites from Mercury in a dangerous section of the continent. \nAs the expedition continues, a violent storm approaches and the trip is forced to be cut short. Despite his own feelings about the situation, Shepard agrees to let McClaren stay another half day, where the sought after fragment is uncovered. \nOn the way back to the research base, McClaren is injured and his life is heroically saved by Maya, the leader of the dog sled. When they return to the base, the storm is too close and they have to evacuate immediately, leaving the dogs behind. \nThe storm proves too strong and the planned return mission to rescue the dogs is aborted. The rest of the film follows the dog's struggle for survival in terrible Antarctic winter conditions. \nThe film's biggest problems revolve around the human actors. Their brief and ineffectual scenes cut in between the dogs' adventures while fighting against an Antarctic winter bring the movie down and take away screen time from the canines. \nThe worse of the films acting is attributed to Moon Bloodgood (yes that's her real name) who plays Shepard's love interest Katie. The entire love interest seems forced (even more so than Katie Holmes' role in "Batman Begins") and the film should have focused solely on the relationship between Shepard and his dogs. Walker's acting although somewhat better than Bloodgood's, was still painful to watch.\nIt is however worth mentioning that Jason Biggs does a good job in the movie as Shepard's sidekick and provides several comedic moments for the film. Although it's not necessarily a stretch for the actor, it is still fun to watch.\nThe sequences involving the dogs on their own are powerful, including one tremendous moment pitting the dogs against a terrifying leopard seal. They are the films main characters and their amount of screen time should have reflected this. \nOverall, the movie works well for its target audiences. It has enough fun and laughs to satisfy most children. But as far as Disney animal survivor films are concerned, "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" will never be topped.