Dolphin Tale 2

I was not one of the big supporters of 2011's Dolphin Tale.  It was a sweet enough film, but it never really grabbed me.  Now we have a sequel, and you know what?  I kind of like this one.  It's not that this is a better movie than the first.  Heck, it's actually more of the same, so those of you who did love the first can jump into this one with no worries.  I don't know, maybe this sequel just caught me in a better mood.

Dolphin Tale 2 continues the story of Winter, the brave little dolphin with an injured tail who became an inspiration when she learned how to swim with the aid of a brilliant prosthetic tail that was designed for her.  Winter has now become a star attraction at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is owned and run by the people who gave her a second chance, and help other marine animals that are in need.  Winter in the movie is played by the actual dolphin herself.  Not only is this a neat fact, but it led to one of the problems I had with the first film.  Since that film was based around whether or not Winter would survive, it kind of killed the suspense to have the real dolphin up there on the screen.  This time, her life doesn't hang in the balance of the outcome of the story, so I was able to enjoy this film without thinking of this obvious flaw.

As the film opens, Winter seems to have fallen into a depression when her long-time dolphin companion dies of old age.  Dolphins are social animals, and according to this movie, it is against the law to have one alone in a tank.  Sawyer (Nathan Gamble), the young boy who bonded with Winter in the last film, tries to bring Winter out of her funk, but the creature resists, and even lashes out violently at him in one scene.  The owner of the aquarium, Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick, Jr.) doesn't know what to do, and may have to move Winter to another aquarium in Texas unless a companion can be found.  A beached dolphin is soon found and rescued, but what if Winter does not take to this new arrival?  The investors behind the aquarium obviously don't want to lose Winter, as she's a major cash cow for them.  But, these animals obviously don't care about things like that, and if they don't get along, there may be little that Haskett or anyone can do.

There are subplots for the human characters, the main one surrounding around Sawyer and the fact that he's been given the opportunity to attend a 3 month boating mission in Boston that will raise awareness about aquatic animal life.  He doesn't know if he should take the offer or not, as he doesn't want to leave Winter behind when she needs him.  Also, he may be developing some feelings for his young lady friend and Dr. Haskett's daughter, Hazel (Cozi Zuehlsdorff), who is frequently at his side.  There are also some opportunities for Morgan Freeman (likable) and Kris Kristofferson (underused in a cameo) to show up once in a while and give the younger characters some grandfatherly advice.  But really, what impressed me about Dolphin Tale 2 is how the movie treats Winter and her fellow animal co-stars.  As Dr. Haskett reminds us at one point, the dolphin is a wild animal, not a pet.  The dolphins and other animals are never required to give cute reaction shots, or perform on camera.  You can see the respect that writer-director Charles Martin Smith has for these creatures.

I always appreciate it when a movie shows us just about every aspect of a job.  This movie feels authentic, as it takes us through just about every major step of running an aquarium, from dealing with potential safety and health violations, to how to introduce a dolphin to a new environment, or introducing it to another of its own kind.  This is a movie that is focused on details and realism, but not so much that the film becomes stagnant or bogged down.  The human characters are likable enough to create an emotional core, and the underwater photography concerning Winter is really quite beautiful to behold.  The filmmakers show a real eye for realism here, without having to resort to cheap sentimentalism too much.

One small word of warning: If you do intend to see Dolphin Tale 2, please do not view the full trailer, as it gives away just about every major plot point in the film.  It actually gives so much away that it may impair your enjoyment of the film.  That said, this is a sweet little film that kind of grew on me as it went along.  It's not going to change the world, but then, it doesn't have to.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

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