Although it didn’t win over critics or audiences upon its debut, Ron Howard’s historical drama deserves a second look. The film recounts the harrowing journey of the whaleship Essex in 1820, based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s non-fiction work, “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.” This true story is famously known for inspiring Herman Melville’s classic novel, “Moby-Dick.”

With a substantial budget of $100 million and a carefully curated cast—including future Spider-Man Tom Holland and an outstanding Brendan Gleeson portraying the same character at different ages—Howard crafts a visually stunning period piece. The movie delivers solid performances and creates a somber atmosphere that fits the tale’s grim setting. While it may not break new ground, those with a penchant for traditional, melancholic maritime tales will find much to appreciate in this underappreciated film.

The structure of “In the Heart of the Sea” might feel familiar to those who enjoyed the 2012 Oscar-winning “Life of Pi,” although it diverges from the original book in certain aspects. Screenwriters Charles Levitt, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver follow a narrative rhythm reminiscent of Ang Lee’s masterpiece. The story begins as a young Herman Melville, played by Ben Whishaw, visits an older Tom Nickerson—portrayed by Brendan Gleeson, with Tom Holland in flashbacks—in 1850s Nantucket, Massachusetts. Melville seeks the true account of the Essex disaster, which was supposedly caused by a massive sperm whale. Despite being the sole survivor, Nickerson is hesitant to revisit those traumatic events, even when tempted with a generous payment.

The storyline follows a predictable path, offering few twists along the way. To compensate, director Ron Howard focuses on delivering grand visual spectacles and leverages a talented cast to infuse the film with the kind of bravery and emotion that fans of nautical adventures cherish.

He eventually gives in and tells the story of two men, Captain George Pollard (Benjamin Walker) and his first mate, Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), who ran the Essex with two very opposing mindsets. Nickerson takes us back to the beginning in 1820, as Pollard and Chase feud over worldviews and methods, with the one common goal of getting as much whale oil as they possibly can. But things go awry rather quickly due to poor decisions, cruel weather, and an enormous white whale that seems to have a personal vendetta to eviscerate the ship and the men who dare to consider it prey.

The plot is as standard as they come, with few surprises along the way, so director Ron Howard opts instead for sheer visual scale and a strong cast that fills the movie with the kind of courage and heart that nautical adventures like this usually revel in.

Every dull, ordinary plot point in “In the Heart of the Sea” is compensated for by the imposing, raw action scenes and immersive setting. Whether it’s volatile weather patterns, another attack by the viciously defiant whale, or devastating starvation, you can always feel the weight of the crew’s predicament. Yet all these scenes wouldn’t land half as hard without a more than capable cast.

Although it’s one of his many movies that bombed at the box office, Chris Hemsworth dominates every moment as Owen Chase, a skilful and honorable man trusted and championed by every member of his crew. He steals the film almost entirely, which isn’t easy to do next to such terrific thespians as Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, or a full-of-promise Tom Holland. Of course, Hemsworth’s role is probably the most meaty as he gets to be heroic, obsessive, and vulnerable throughout the film. The rest of the main cast simply don’t get as many opportunities to awe us with their range — Murphy is especially underused as Owen’s long-time friend and confidant, Matthew Joy — but they all deliver some fine work.

“In the Heart of the Sea” may not be as memorable or outstanding as other nautical classics, but it certainly proves itself worthy enough for a watch to those hunting for adventuresome period dramas. Just be wary of the fact that, regardless of the story’s principal connections to “Moby-Dick,” the movie is not so much a relentless hunt for a mythical creature as it is a chronicle of survival and bonding between men at sea.