Just a few months ago the world was re-introduced to family films when Dolphin Tale showed us just how exciting real life can be. Now, thanks to another extraordinary 'tail' , families can once again flock to the theaters, this time for a miracle of whale-sized proportions in Universal's Big Miracle.
Boasting an impressive cast that includes John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney, and Ted Danson, Big Miracle tells a story where three whales may deem more important than decades of foreign altercation.
When a news reporter uncovers s story where three grey whales are trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle, he instigates a national effort to save the helpless animals. But with time and nature working against them, operation Breakthrough seems to be anything but cooperative.
John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore and Kristen Bell share surprisingly strong chemistry, spicing up the the screen even when the dialogue leaves much to be desired. The film takes every opportunity to pull at your heartstrings as many tear ducts will be emptied by the time the whales' fate is determined.
While Big Miracle does borderline on overly cliche and is a bit melodramatic, you can't help but be drawn into its extraordinary story and characters. Numerous subplots help keep things moving, and a little tease after the credits show that even the most unbelievable outcomes appear to be rooted in fact. I didn't once look at my watch during the film's near two-hour run time, and in this day in age there is no bigger compliment I can give a film.
