Big Miracle
Directed by: Ken Kwapis
Cast: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, John Pingayak
Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: February 3, 2012
PLOT: Based on a true story. In 1998, in the small town of Barrow, Alaska, a news reporter (Krasinski) does a news story on three trapped grey whales, which brings the attention of many Americans including his ex-girlfriend (Barrymore), a Greenpeace volunteer.
WHO'S IT FOR? Families. It's plain and simple. I think it will definitely help if you recall the true story and if you are a little nostalgic for the '80s.
OVERALL
There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of those whales. OK, that's not true. In fact, I probably haven't thought about Fred, William and Bamm-Bamm (the whales' names) since 1989. But it all came back to me. That's the power of Big Miracle despite its flaws.
Adam (Krasinski) is a small-town Alaska reporter going from city to city in a segment called "Adam Around Alaska." The town and especially a kid named Nathan (Ahmaogak Sweeney) adore him. How can they not? He's acting exactly like that guy named Jim from that TV show "The Office." Actually, it never makes sense that Nathan is around, except that this is a family film. I guess it's a rule, just like someone must die every 20 minutes on CBS dramas.
Soon, Adam discovers three trapped grey whales and smartly thinks his report could be his ticket to the big time. A few networks pick it up and bam! Barrow is on the map. This also brings Greenpeace volunteer Rachel (Barrymore). She's annoying. She cares too much, as many passionate people can. Oil companies, led by J. W. McGraw (Ted Danson), also make their presence known. It's a shining example of just how annoying Rachel is when I find myself rooting for the oil baron.
There is a lack of excitement with Rachel, Adam and another reporter played by Kristen Bell, in a weak love-triangle. There is also the fact that they didn't nail the cold. After just watching The Grey, it chills to the bone no matter what temperature the room is. Big Miracle doesn't even try, like when Rachel dives under to check out the whales, comes back up, and doesn't even acknowledge a cold face. Wouldn't this have been the perfect time for Barrymore to make a joke about talking out of the side of her face, because it's frozen?
There is a charm to this film, and most of the effort seems to be in casting. I've already mentioned a handful of notable actors, but we also have Tim Blake Nelson, Stephen Root, Kathy Baker, John Michael Higgins, Dermot Mulroney, Rob Riggle and James LeGros. The Inuit natives get some focus, though not much dialogue. John Pingayak gets the most out of it. Everyone has different reasons to save the whales, and most of them have nothing to do with the actual whales. This could have been the passion that drives the entire film, but with it being a "family flick," it has kid gloves and rightly so.
What does it mean? Sometimes we don't have to figure that out, we just have to care. It seems Big Miracle has taken that approach as well. The film is simply trying to entertain families while reliving a significant historical moment. It makes me care. I don't expect those 15 years younger (I'm 35) to appreciate the film, but everyone else should have a decent time with this film.
When I was twelve, I remember thinking, hoping and praying for the trapped whales. Big Miracle does just enough to bring those feelings back.
FINAL SCORE: 6/10