There’s a reason this Gerard Butler action flick might be a game changer for the Scottish one man army. In Greenland, it’s true that he cracks heads, takes a beating and does rugged resilience better than some actors half his age. Where the erstwhile disaster movie turns left instead of a predictable right, however, is in its use of tone. Character beats, plot and structure might be quickly established, but it’s in the way things morph over a lean two hours that makes the difference.

A convincing Morena Baccarin plays Allison Garrity to Butler’s John in a role which on first impression feels one note. However, what director Ric Roman Waugh does is give Allison backbone, a resourceful streak and sass by the sack load. When the pivotal plot point kicks in bang on fifteen minutes, Earth is facing an extinction level event, the Garritys are...