Viewed in
2012
Formats
DVD
Premise
A young boy befriends a dolphin who lost her tail in an accident.
Liked
Overall vibe.
Disliked
Acting.
Thoughts
Overall, Dolphin Tale was a likable heart-warming film. It was occasionally corny, but it never overwhelmed me with its sappy message about the undying human spirit.
The biggest flaw was the wooden acting, which is usually more the fault of the director. It didn't help that the actors had to regurgitate obvious dialog. Ashley Judd seemed to be the only one who could plow through the material with gusto and charm. Morgan Freeman was strong as well, but he could've been on auto-pilot and we wouldn't have known any better.
As a film buff, there were a few incredulous moments during the story that made me roll me eyes. Also, the CGI wasn't well integrated into the live-action footage.
As a family film, it was perfectly suitable. It should entertain kids with a likable dolphin story, there was nothing subversive or cynical for parents to fear, and it won't bore the hell out of an adult.
