Ladder 49 MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -1

Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is the centerpiece of this poignant action drama. When he is trapped in a burning building, he reminisces about his life back to the time when he first joined the Baltimore Fire Department as a rookie. As he waits for his company, Ladder 49, to reach him, we see his flashbacks, which last most of the move: his first fire and the many people he had a part in rescuing, the first time he meets his wife Linda (Jacinda Barrett), the pressures that are put on his family due to the dangers of firefighting, and the joy of camaraderie with fellow firefighters as they play practical jokes and build close bonds. Mike Kennedy (John Travolta), fire chief and prankster, becomes Jacks mentor and personally takes on the responsibility of Jacks safety. Now Jack must depend on his fellow firefighters more than ever as he finds himself surrounded by smoke and fire with no clear way of escape.

Ladder 49 is a compelling story that recognizes the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday in order to protect us. The exciting action comes with some violence and somber moments that are appropriate for the job. Jack and his wife struggle with the life-and-death dangers of fire fighting as they realize the responsibility that they have for each other and their children. Loyalty and trust among friends is also demonstrated on and off work. In one scene, a women appears to have spent the night with a man she recently met. The men of the Baltimore Fire Department enjoy spending a lot of time in the local pub getting somewhat inebriated. But the most objectionable aspect of this film is the bad language, which prevents Previews recommendation.

Preview Reviewer: Alan Boyer
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures