Big Miracle, A Movie Worth Watching

We live in a time when sequels, prequels, and remakes are the norm. Movies about the love lives of vampires and werewolves are even more common (unfortunately, for my tastes). Movies based on real-life events are a rare thing, indeed.

But that's exactly what Big Miracle offers. Not only is it based on a true story, it's also a timely one. The worry over the environment, animal rights, and trying to find a balance between what we want for our world, while navigating the politics involved, is lightly explored in this flick.

I say "lightly" because this is not a hard-hitting documentary. This is a feel-good movie; intended for uplifting family viewing. It brushes over some of the harsher conflicts and realities of what really occurred.

If you're curious, you can read the true backstory here: Anchorage Daily News

And while the movie leaves out some of the grittier details, it does show how people do come together for this cause, but that each has their own separate motivations for their cooperation. Between the Inupiat tribe that regularly hunts whales, to the oil company that needs the good PR, everyone involved has an angle. And while Big Miracle doesn't dwell on these issues, it at least doesn't ignore them entirely.

Drew Barrymore plays a Greenpeace activist/organizer (Rachel Kramer), a character after my own heart. But Big Miracle even exposes some of the character's well-intentioned naivete, in regards to local customs, whale hunting, and so on. And, I must admit, my husband shot me a glance with a chuckle when Drew's character commented on another woman with, "I'm pretty sure her make-up was tested on animals."

Definitely something I'd say. ;-)

As for my niece, who just turned 5 years old today; she liked it. But she didn't love it. There are two things that made the difference for her. First, she had no interest in the political chit-chat. SPOILER ALERT (if you didn't read the true story, anyway): Secondly, she didn't like that one of the whales didn't make it. But, as anticipated from a young child, she stated her favorite part was when the whales got free and started jumping out of the water.

So, while my niece was a little too young to understand some of the more important global topics, she understood the concept of the whales being trapped, a lot of different people gathering around to help, and found great joy in their freedom. This movie will, quite possibly, be the Free Willy of her generation.

Also, as expected, she spent the ride home telling me how she should build a big pool in her front yard so that whales could stay there and never get frozen in. But she immediately added, "But I can't let them see my fish, cause they'll eat them." Adorable? I think so. (I'll give her a few years before I explain the pitfalls of confinement.)

All in all, we each enjoyed the movie. It explored politics, personal motivations, humanity, and the absolute beauty and dignity of whales. And we all enjoyed it for different reasons; which may be the beauty of it. Perhaps my favorite part was the real footage that played during the credits. It truly brings a sense of awe, when you're reminded that what you had just seen in a glitzy hollywood fashion, actually happened.

If you'd like to know more about helping whales and oceanic wildlife, I'd recommend you visit Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, and Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project.