After the release of United 93 in 2006, there was little doubt that director Paul Greengrass knew how to create vivid, suspenseful movies based on real events. With The Lost Bus, Greengrass tells another reality-based story, this one about a daring rescue that took place during the 2018 California Camp Fire which resulted in 85 deaths and caused massive destruction in the town of Paradise. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kevin McKay, a beleaguered school bus driver who's going through a bad patch. His 15-year-old son (McConaughey's real-life son Levi) maintains a sullen distance from his divorced father. Kevin’s mom (McConaughey's real-life other Kay McCabe McConaughey) is ill. Kevin struggles to get by financially and often finds himself an odds with his boss (Ashlie Atkinson). But let's cut to the chase: Personal issues aside, the movie quickly pits Kevin against the raging fire. When panicky evacuation begins, Kevin agrees to transport a classroom full of elementary school children and their teacher (America Ferrera) to a safe place. Ferrera and McConaughey deal with upset children, gridlocked traffic, encroaching flames, and the prospect of failure — which will be lethal. The real stars of the movie are the special and digital effects team that create the terrifying fire. The Lost Bus isn't the deepest of dramas, and Greengrass doesn't spend much time on the electrical company that was held responsible for the blaze. But Greengrass and his team know how to hold attention. At its best, The Lost Bus tells a harrowing story of behavior under extreme stress.
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