
Variety
Though garnished with some heavy dollops of cheese, Dolphin Tale is a surprisingly solid, earnest family picture.
Full review3D family drama based on the true story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap and is rescued by Florida's Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The real Winter plays herself in the movie, co-starring with Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr. and Kris Kristofferson.
"Without her tail, Winter's prognosis is dire. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist (Connick Jr.), the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor (Freeman), and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle." (Source: Official Synopsis).
LessThough garnished with some heavy dollops of cheese, Dolphin Tale is a surprisingly solid, earnest family picture.
Full reviewAn eccentric Morgan Freeman (as a prosthetics designer) counterpoints the schmaltz in a film as slick, charming and eager-to-please as a SeaWorld cetacean.
Full reviewPitched awfully young, without a shred of the satire or subtlety that is generally found in films aimed at tweeners and above. That's not a bad thing; it just means accompanying grown-ups or older siblings will have to choke down a sizable dose of schmaltz with their fish milkshakes.
Full reviewThere's never any doubt the boy will find redemption in the beast, but Dolphin Tale deserves credit for sidestepping into darker waters: Sawyer's cousin returns from Iraq severely injured and depressed, though there's a grim inevitability about the fact he, too, is rehabilitated by the dolphin.
Full reviewLearning of this story, I thought, aw, come on, give me a break. But it turns out the story is not only based on fact, but the actual dolphin involved, named Winter, stars in the movie as herself. Her new tail functions admirably.
Full reviewThis true story of a dolphin with a prosthetic tail has been precision engineered for full inspirational, heart-warming value.
Full reviewA good shout if your kids like this sort of thing, otherwise best head to your local aquarium.
Full reviewWe aren’t aware of any way to watch Dolphin Tale 3D in Australia. If we’ve got that wrong, please contact us.
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