Review: Mogul Richard Branson’s adventures chronicled in amusing documentary ‘Don’t Look Down’

A pair of death-defying acts involving one of the world’s most famous contemporary entrepreneurs and adventurers, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, take center stage in the enjoyable, if oddly non-propulsive, documentary “Don’t Look Down.”

The film recounts Branson and expert balloonist/co-pilot Per Lindstrand’s two record-breaking hot air balloon journeys, crossing the Atlantic Ocean (from Maine to Northern Ireland) in 1987 and the Pacific (Japan to Canada) in 1991.

If initially conceived as a go-big stunt to promote his nascent Virgin Atlantic Airways, the thrill factor clearly became a driving force for the mogul, overshadowing logic and safety as well as his business and family obligations. By the time of the riskier Pacific crossing, Branson seemed obsessed, and he and Lindstrand almost didn’t live to tell the tale.

Director Daniel Gordon capably uses a wealth of vital, at times harrowing, archival footage recorded inside the balloons in flight, attendant news coverage, and recent interviews with Branson, Lindstrand, other original flight participants and observers, and Branson’s wife and mum, to help recollect the attention-grabbing trips.

But greater technical and financial detail, additional period context, a deeper look at what makes daredevils such as Branson and Lindstrand tick, and snappier overall chronicling would’ve made this fun ride truly soar.

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‘Don’t Look Down’

Not rated.

Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinelounge, Hollywood; also on VOD

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