Movie Reviews, Reviews

Movie Review – Dolphin Tale

Dolphin Tale

By: Karen Pecota
24/7 MOMS Movie Reviewer

The world of Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) takes a downward spiralwith the news that his beloved cousin, Kyle Connellan (Austin Stowell) willenter military service, in place of pursuing his long-time dream to train forthe U.S. Olympic swim team. Kyle has been a strong mentor to Sawyer since hisdad walked out on him and his mother, Lorraine Nelson (Ashley Judd) leavingthem to struggle both on an emotional level and financially. The questions leftunanswered for the two is the most damaging. Sawyer is angry. His emotionalstate is fragile and is worried for the life of his cousin. He would bedevastated if his cousin never came back from the war zone he is assigned. Kyleis Sawyer’s hero and wants to see him excel as an Olympian but the optimistic Kylesays there will be time to pursue his dreams after the military. Kyle presents Sawyer with a heavy-dutySwiss Army knife as a going away gift to be something tangible to be remembered,as well as, a helpful tool in Sawyer’s workshop. Sawyer is creative and buildsamazing gadgets.

Sawyer needs time to ponder his feelings of sadness and takes thelong way to school which trails the Clearwater, Florida coast line just off theAtlantic Ocean. Sawyer is on hisbike and hears someone calling for help. Sawyer heads down to the beach in thedirection of the male voice. Sawyer sees that a Dolphin has washed up on shoreand awfully tangled in crab-pot wire. It’s alive! Sawyer grabbed his Swiss Armyknife and began franticly cutting wires to release the pressure that wasstrangling the dolphin to its death. The dolphin is at the mercy of Sawyer’shand and sees the work that Sawyer is doing to save its life making aconnection to him. Sawyer is able to free the dolphin but the tail is badlydamaged from the injury. Sawyer’s sadness is compounded with the fact that hecould not do more to ease the dolphins’ agony. The authorities from ClearwaterMarine Hospital arrive on the scene to transport the dolphin to a safe haven.

The evening news makes the accident newsworthy. The MarineHospital’s Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick, Jr.), states that the dolphin, theyhave named Winter, will lose its tail. Sawyer yearns to help Winter one moretime. After supper he heads to his workshop to do some research and wonders ifa dolphin would take to a prosthetic tale. Sawyer connects to Dr. McCarthy(Morgan Freeman), a famous prosthetic limb designer for military veterans toask help to save Winter. Though apprehensive the two embark on an inspirationaljourney of true valor; between a dolphin in need, a young boy’s desire to havepurpose and a group of friends willing to be on the cutting edge of mammal lifesurvival using technology to save the life of a dolphin.

P.S. Dolphin Tale isbased on a true story, written and directed by filmmaker Charles Martin Smithwith Alcon Entertainment. Smith notes, “The real Winter, who plays herself in Dolphin Tale, today serves as a symbolof courage, perseverance and hope to millions of people—both able anddisabled—who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery andrehabilitation.

Rated: PG

Karen Pecota

24/7 MOMS film journalist

Released in local theaters: September 23, 2011

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Movie Review – Dolphin Tale

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