Review of film: “DOLPHIN TALE” = A “TAIL” Tale of providing a Happier “SPRING” from WINTER

     

2011, 08-21;  to open 09-23:

Review of film:  “DOLPHIN TALE” in 3D =  A “TAIL” Tale of providing a Happier “SPRING” from WINTER

This 113–minute PG-rated film (directed by CHARLES MARTIN SMITH who did “AIR BUD”) is based on a TRUE story about a bottle-nosed dolphin named “WINTER”...

...  Sawyer Nelson (NATHAN GAMBLE) is being raised by his mother Lorraine (ASHLEY JUDD).  She’s very busy trying to make a living & all, & he tends to feel pretty alone & friendless...

...  One day, Nathan is walking along a beach in Florida & finds a DOLPHIN beached onshore while trapped in cords of a crab trap... 

...  Altho dolphins are air-breathing mammals, they’re not “built” for laying out of water on sand for any length of time, & he works to UNTANGLE the animal from the cords ensnaring it...

...  Around this time, some professional sealife RESCUERS arrive in a truck, in the form of Dr. Clay Haskett (HARRY CONNICK JR.) & his outgoing young daughter Hazel (COZI ZUEHLSDORFF) who talks to shy Nathan about what a good job he’d done in helping the dolphin...

...  Having nothing better to do, Nathan soon visits the CLEARWATER MARINE HOSPITAL where Harry took the dolphin named “Winter” to try to help her recover... 

...  Nathan sees the dolphin in a pool, & Cozi tells him how Winter had a damaged TAIL from being caught in the trap, & thus she couldn’t move around properly & was doing POORLY...

...  Cozi talks to a Hospital assistant named Phoebe (AUSTIN HIGHSMITH) who’s in the pool with Winter.  From some sounds Winter makes, Austin comments to Nathan that Winter is RESPONDING positively to his presence (seemingly remembering how he’d helped her when she was caught in the cords)...

...  Nathan is thrilled to experience the attachment Winter exhibits, & happily keeps VISITING the Hospital... 

...  In time, as he’s helped by his father Reed (KRIS KRISTOFFERSON), Harry comments on how they’d had to REMOVE the damaged tail flukes from Winter in order to try to save her LIFE... 

...  And, it’s also explained how dolphins normally can’t LIVE without use of their tail to navigate (propel them) thru the water... 

...  To everyone’s surprise, Winter strives to TRY to maneuver without the fluke end of her tail--  but, as the experts comment, it’s eventually going to be a LOSING battle...

...  Nathan finally has found something he cares about in the world, & he eagerly goes on the INTERNET to try to find a SOLUTION to Winter’s problem... 

...  He finds an article about an expert in developing PROSTHETIC devices, Dr. Cameron McCarthy (MORGAN FREEMAN), & goes to VISIT him...  Nathan explains about Winter, & tries to persuade him to consider making a PROSTHETIC tail for his animal friend...

...  Nathan brings Morgan over to talk to Harry to get more information...  His mom Ashley is concerned that Nathan is more concerned with helping WINTER than in going to school --  but she’s sees he’s developing a more OUTGOING & positive nature from the involvement...

...  Talks are held at the Hospital to find an effective way for Morgan to PROVIDE the needed tail for Winter... 

...  Nathan has an older cousin, Kyle Connellan (AUSTIN STOWELL), who’d received a war injury, & at one point brings HIM to the Hospital to try to give HIM some encouragement about his own injury...

...  Morgan tries to design an artificial tail for Winter...  Things don’t always go SMOOTHLY  at the Hospital:  it  suffers thru a damaging HURRICANE, there are problems with the tail Morgan designs (as it’s uncomfortable for Winter to “wear”), etc...

...  Will the Hospital find a way to get money to REPAIR its facilities so it can CONTINUE its rescue work like it attempted with Winter?...

...  Will Morgan be able to develop a tail that Winter could wear COMFORTABLY & be able to help her swim PROPERLY (such as “SPRINGING” upwards out of the water as most dolphins love to do)?...

...  Will his involvement with Winter & the people at the Hospital help NATHAN become more “sociable” & “INVOLVED” with the world around him?...

...  The film was created by the same producers as the “THE BLINDSPOT”, & it has the same basically UPLIFTING feel as that film...  It utilizes the REAL Winter playing herself (rather than try using a lot of “special effects” to recreate her)...

...  I saw the 3D version of this.  It's effects are good (adding "depth"), tho nothing "special"...

...  Everyone --  especially the KIDS Nathan & Cozi – are very GOOD in their roles, which helps make for an ENGAGING film...

...  It has a bunch of good “messages”, including how PEOPLE can be helped in their attitudes & lives thru the use of the increasingly sophisticated prosthetic devices being made to help with injuries, & how they can TRIUMPH over adversities in general...

...  Some elements might strike certain people as a bit “overdone”--  but, it provides a good “hook” for the true elements of the “Tail” tale, the dolphin is (as usual) CHARMING & engaging, the film is ENJOYABLE to watch, & thus I’m rating it at 7.75 of 10 stars (&, for KIDS, the rating would be even higher)...

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