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'Big Miracle' review

Heartwarming whale movie delivers laughs and a totally awesome '80s flashback

By Rachael Mason

Special to Metromix
February 2, 2012

Critic's Rating:

John Krasinski and Drew Barrymore (Credit: Darren Michaels/Universal)

Drew Barrymore as Rachel Kramer in ``Big Miracle.''

John Krasinski (left) as Adam Carlson in ``Big Miracle.''

Dermot Mulroney (center) as Col. Scott Boyer in ``Big Miracle.''

Kristen Bell as Jill Jerard in ``Big Miracle.''

Big Miracle

Running time:: 107 minutes

Rated:: PG

Cast:

John Krasinski -

Adam Carlson

Drew Barrymore -

Rachel Kramer

Kristen Bell -

Jill Jerard

Vinessa Shaw -

Kelly Meyers

Dermot Mulroney -

Col. Scott Boyer

See full cast

Director:: Ken Kwapis

Genre:: Adventure, Drama

Official Movie Web Site:: http://www.everybodyloveswhales.com/

Overall User Rating:: (1 rating)

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While on assignment a small town, television reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) discovers three whales as they surface through a small opening in the ice. After the whales—nicknamed Fred, Wilma and Bamm-Bamm—make the national news, journalists from across the country descend on Barrow, as politicians and the town’s residents try to figure out how to help. Greenpeace activist Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), who is also Adam’s ex, heads up the effort to get the whales to the open sea.

The buzz: Set in 1988—and based on a true story—“Big Miracle” addresses wildlife conservation and Alaskan oil drilling, which remain hot-button topics today. Barrymore’s character is based on Cindy Lowry, a Greenpeace director in Anchorage. While preparing for the film, the actress spent time with Lowry, learning about the activist’s experiences during the whale rescue. Lowry also helped lead the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which happened the same year.

The verdict: Yes, “Big Miracle” might seem as if it’s intended entirely for the under-12 set, but there’s plenty here for adults, too. The whales don’t actually appear on screen that often, but you’ll find yourself rooting for the massive mammals as they splash water out of their blowholes in a seemingly meaningful way. Even the movie’s cold-hearted oil tycoon (Ted Danson) falls for the sea creatures after offering to help them as a PR stunt. Though saving the whales is a serious matter, “Big Miracle” has a pleasingly light touch in its conversational dialogue and a few laugh-out-loud moments. Kristen Bell plays a comically glamorous Los Angeles television reporter, and Dermot Mulroney brings a dry sense of humor to his line delivery as a just-the-facts-ma’am National Guardsman. “Big Miracle” also pays loving tribute to the ’80s, through the news reports displayed on awesome retro TV sets throughout the film, many very important phone calls made on classic phones with curly cords, and the cassettes—including Guns N’ Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction”—that Adam gives his 11-year-old friend Nathan (Ahmaogak Sweeney) to play on a Walkman. The nostalgia trip does go a bit too far when it comes to President Ronald Reagan—he’s awkwardly seen from the back and in profile before a TV press conference—though a jar of his beloved jelly beans glimpsed on his desk is a nice touch. With a positive vibe and admirable intentions, it’s surprisingly easy to get drawn into the incredibly true story of “Big Miracle.” After all, who can resist whales—and John Krasinski?

Did you know? The film’s whales were created by Glasshammer Visual Effects, a special effects company in New Zealand, and shipped to Alaska for filming. The company studied original news reports to recreate the barnacles and scars of the three California gray whales from 1988. Glasshammer also made the whales for 2002’s “Whale Rider.”