Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story (2001)

Uneasy mix of unlikable characters, poor survival techniques, and a contrived storyline. This plays like a dysfunctional family primer, and has questionable entertainment value. William Devane fans will be on somewhat familiar ground, and Patty Duke tries her best. Unfortunately the transformation of the left behind daughter from spoiled brat to forest ranger trainee is totally unbelievable, and sinks whatever believability remained. The story tries to be warm and fuzzy with little success considering the dire situation. Finally, the conclusion with a barely alive sibling snowboarding like a Winter Olympian is truly laughable. - MERK

Okay, so it isn't "Alive!" (one of my favorites) or "The Donnor Party". Nobody gets eaten. It isn't nearly as intense as all that but sometimes I need a break from intensity. I caught this movie when I was, conveniently, in the mood for something laid back. Basically, it's the story of a family whose plane crashes in the mountains in the snow. Most of the movie focuses on the ongoing internal conflicts the family has while the mother (played very well by Patty Duke) struggles to get everyone to cooperate in order to survive. The storyline is very simple and so is the dialogue but I found it to be a relaxing entertaining movie. There seems to be lots of criticism in the other reviews. I don't think it warrants **that** much negativity.

After having watched a pleasant, happy film prior to this one -- on a quiet Sunday morning -- at first I thought this one might be all right. Patty Duke and William Devane are credible actors, if not "A" or "high-B" list, and I've seen them both in good presentations.However, not in this "turkey." I didn't watch it in entirety, but couldn't help switching back a few times, and missed nothing affecting the understanding of the plot or the performances in doing so.Whereas the previous film had contained a cast of likable characters and performances, and even those who were there to provide some less-pleasant aspects to the proceedings weren't over-the-top -- this flick was the complete opposite.There's about as much depth to these characters and the family central to the story as a rain puddle.Not a single one could be termed likable or sympathetic. The only differences might be the very slight degree as to which the various individuals are less likable than the others. (The "son" comes closest to likability, but he still misses the mark by a good distance.)The parents' obsession to have this dysfunctional lot proceed, en masse, via their private plane, to celebrate their anniversary is both inane and (given the fore-mentioned dysfunction) absolutely ludicrous..The daughter who missed the flight due to her being delayed en route to the airfield (they had to leave her behind due to impending bad weather) who interacts with rescuers, may have been the most obnoxious of this crew.Finally, their conduct at the crash site had its silly aspects as well, as pointed-out in other comments. And the supporting cast and their performance did nothing to improve the quality of this opus.

The story is not new, this is what may happen if you survive in snowy and cold conditions, but the film has its own morale. The parents should be more flexible with their sons and daughters not trying to impose patterns of behavior because each one wants to have his/her own personality. At then end the family is good and all worry each other. Everyone in disgrace recognizes the talent or the ability of each other from the father up to the younger sister.