From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Our Sean Cockerham is in D.C. tonight, where he'll get one of the first looks at "Big Miracle." Look for that coverage soon.

But first, the early reviews are in for another major release that tells a snowy Alaskan tale. Except in this case, the producers opted to film in Canada instead.

Critics this week are meeting "The Grey" with middling to favorable, if unenthusiastic, reviews.

The Liam Neeson survival thriller -- a fictional tale of oil rig workers and the scary wolves that try to eat them is -- is currently idling at a 55 score on Metacritic.

The Hollywood Reporter delivers a bit of backhanded praise:

However Neeson's admirers feel about the disappearance of Kinsey-grade fare from his filmography, the film may be the best of his lowbrow outings.

Rotten Tomatoes is kinder, rating the film 81 percent "fresh."

"Joe Carnahan's film largely works, building toward a great ending, which functions as one of the best, truest action climaxes in recent memory," writes Slant Magazine.

The Village Voice, meantime, is disappointed:

"I was told there would be more wolf-punching."