Things That Parents Need To Know
Parents should know that this animal-rescue tale will instantly appeal to animal lovers and kids of all ages (especially ones who saw last year's Dolphin Tale). Parents will appreciate the positive lessons on how one person can make a difference, as well as the importance of family and standing up for what you believe is right. Parents will have to use some caution as the film has some language issues, as well as some mixed theology.
Review
I am a huge fan of true stories that get screen adaptations, especially if they are about animal rescues. In the tradition of Free Willy and Dolphin Tale, I knew that this was one not to miss.
In this whale of a tale, a news reporter named Adam (John Krasinski) is looking for the next major story, as he is on the verge of being "replaced". While filming a friend's sled stunts, he discovers a hole in the ice where three gray whales are trapped beneath. This new story catches the attention of Greenpeace member and ex-girlfriend Rachel (Drew Barrymore) and its not long before it is seen around the world. As a result, people come from all over to try and help the situation. When government leaders think it is a waste of time, Adam, Rachel, another news reporter (Kristen Bell) and others must work together to save the whales.
This adventure has a few educational bits on whales and how they live, and positive lessons on the importance of family, standing up for what you believe is right, determination, never giving-up, bravery, self-sacrifice, and how one person can make a difference. The cast is great, with Barrymore, Krasinski, Tim Blake Nelson, Bell and numerous others. Barrymore's character, Rachel, is a strong role model who never lets any criticism or doubt bring her down, and keeps on going without giving up (she later is credited for that by someone towards the end of the film). This film also parallels to it's true story roots, back in the late 1980's with someone depicting president Ronald Reagan, and old news reports from Tom Brokaw and the late Peter Jennings. The digital whales are well-crafted, the scenery is beautiful, and it has a sense of reality just by the way the cast interacts with the whales and the way things are.
Also on a positive note, Big Miracle is classified as a romance drama, but adult content is limited to one or two passionate kisses. The only real iceberg that families may have a hard time getting around is that the film's language issues. While mild, they say the crudities a little more often than what you would expect from a PG movie. Two mild curse words are said repeatedly, a couple of strong insults are directed at people and whales, God's name is misused quite a bit, and a couple of uses of other mild slang. A fired news reporter is seen briefly being drunk, and there's one sad moment towards the end of the film. Also, some Inuit spirituality gets screentime, though it's not exactly preached.
Altogether, Miracle is a heartwarming and inspiring film that embraces its' true story. It also earns a pass for family-friendliness, but keep in mind that there's just enough language that parents may want to think twice before bringing their little ones in tow...
Big Miracle is rated PG for "language".
POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE Summary
Positive Negative
--Has a bit of educational content on whales --About two-dozen interjections of mild language
--Positive lessons on the importance of family, including a couple of strong insults and misuses
how one person can make all the difference, of God's name.
and standing up for what you believe is right. --Brief sequence around a drunk news reporter.
--Drew Barrymore's character Rachel is a good --Inuit spirituality gets brief screentime.
role model who doesn't give up, even when
people try to bring her down.
Outcome: Mixed.
