Penguins took last summer's box-office by storm. Now Huskies get their turn. If the Antarctic saga Eight Below were better structured, their chances of winning over audiences the way the stars of March of the Penguins did would be greatly improved. Many viewers, and not just younger ones, will wander off during the movie's long middle section, when eight abandoned sled dogs must fend for themselves during a harsh winter.

All told, they do fine. But their loyal human companion, Jerry -- a survival guide limned by Paul Walker -- is crippled by guilt over leaving them behind. Watching Jerry and other upright mammals sort through their emotions and priorities stateside is a slog. While a rescue mission and reunion are certainly in the offing, a compelling case is made for preferring animals to people.

The structural problems in Eight Below may stem from its origins. The main titles display the commonplace "Inspired by a True Story" and yet according to the end titles it was "suggested by" a 1983 Japanese movie. There's a contradiction here. At minimum, it would be more accurate to say "inspired by a movie that was based on a true story", although according to the press material no single incident spawned the Japanese film.

This complicated genesis obscures the fact that Eight Below is a straightforward lost dog story -- one that shouldn't have strayed so far or for so long from the "bottom of the World". In 1993, the last year sled dog teams were allowed to work in Antarctica (for fear they would spread distemper amongst the seal population), Jerry and his "kids" lead a UCLA geologist (the reliable Bruce Greenwood) on a late-season expedition from their National Science Foundation base.

The doctor's determination to find pieces of a meteorite leads to dangerous mishaps during their scramble to get back before a killer storm hits. Jerry and the dogs prove their valor. On their return, however, the station has to be evacuated immediately and there's no room for the canine heroes. Jerry vows to fetch them immediately, a promise prevented by the onset of winter and bureaucratic obstacles. The movie loses its momentum after this first act, which delivers the kind of exploits you'd expect from a 1960's or early 1970's Disney feature. 

The story line is severed and the sense of adventure muzzled as we switch back-and-forth between Jerry's mournful funk and the animal's travails. The biggest thrill during this long section comes when the dogs discover a killer whale carcass vigorously defended by a seal. Titles tell us the number of days the dogs have been on their own and it stretches to over 175.

Being an ASPCA supporter isn't necessary to find the narrative exciting, but genuine dog lovers, and those seeking a higher adventure quotient, will crave more focus on the animals. The humans are pretty lame. Jason Biggs' turn as a clowning, airsick cartographer is embarrassing and the stuttering romance between Jerry and a foxy bush pilot (Moon Bloodgood) weak. The bonding between the dogs works better, with leader-of-the pack Maya schooling a young, inexperienced musher named Max.

The best that can be said about Walker is that he's convincing as an outdoorsman and makes Jerry's love for the dogs believable. Unfortunately, we don't get to see them together enough. And not to minimize their arduous feat, but aren't these alpha dogs well-equipped to survive in the wilderness? This question arises partly because the winter doesn't seem all that wicked; maybe due to the fact the movie was filmed everywhere but in Antarctica -- Greenland, Norway, Northern Canada, and Vancouver to be exact.

At the beginning of Eight Below, we see the Stars and Stripes being raised, the dogs shagging baseballs for Jerry, and penguins exiting the icy water in a brief sequence reminiscent of March of the Penguins. Although we admire the dogs, and sales of Huskies and Malamutes may spike, this wholesome bowl of kibble is less nourishing than that penguin documentary.

(Released by Walt Disney Pictures and rated "PG" for some peril and brief mild language.)