A family of three gray whales trapped beneath the ice in Alaska becomes international news in this rescue adventure, starring Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and Ted Danson. Based on the Tom Rose novel Freeing the Whales, itself inspired by 1988's Operation Breakthrough.
Reporter Adam (Krasinski) is about to be unwillingly reassigned out of Alaska when three gray whales surface in an ice hole. Covering the story gives him an excuse to stay but when it becomes apparent the whales are trapped, his puff piece becomes big news. Spearheading the rescue effort is Greenpeacer Rachel (Barrymore) who has to first battle and then unite international governments, oil tycoons and Inuit locals to save the three trapped whales.
I wasn't expecting too much from this movie. Thought it was going to be a bad doco of the original happening. I never heard a thing about it at the time. I guess it was before the internet became all prevalent and our wold was so much bigger. Turns out it was a reasonably well done movie. Krasinski makes for an appealing reporter buried in Alaska trying to find interesting news items. Barrymore is your stereotypical greenie. I knew nothing about the original story and found it fascinating that so many people with different agendas came together to help that family of whales. One of the best parts was at the end where you see the original characters from the real deal, including the White House. All in all a warm movie, set in the cold depths of Alaska. Would recommend it as a nice movie the whole family can watch.
Under its crowd-pleasing exterior lies an undercurrent of bracing cynicism.
Whale fans will blubber, but uneven Miracle flounders in its hunt for narrative focus.
The sledgehammer emoting should let you know you're in a family drama.
Big Miracle is harmless enough, but what's annoying about it is its aura of fake activism.
Big Miracle shouldn't really work, but it does.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 16th Feb 2012.
Release date: February 16th 2012.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
