Movie Review: Free Willy
Rated by 1 member
What Parents Should Know
Yes, it's farfetched, but it's also very enjoyable. Plot
complications (like insurance fraud) may be a little complex
for many younger viewers. But kids, particularly animal lovers,
will want to see this.
What else is there to know? Amidst the gallons of theatrics are some precious pints of orca biology and behavior -- you might follow up with some online whale research together. There's also plenty of save the whales stumping, which might excite any budding activists.
Common Sense Media Review
Here's the basic summary: Jesse (Jason James Richter), a
twelve-year-old street kid, is caught by police after joining
his buddies in spray-painting a marine amusement park. With the
blessing of a new foster dad (Michael Madsen), Jesse must work
at the place and clean up the damage. There he meets an
unlikely fellow rebel: Willy, an ill-tempered killer whale,
netted from nearby Pacific coastal waters.
Jesse befriends the moody animal. He even privately trains Willy to do tricks. The park's owner, seeing a chance to profit, has Jesse and Willy perform for customers, but Willy, aggravated by the crowds, doesn't cooperate. Management sabotages Willy's tank, to collect on an accidental-death insurance policy. Jesse finds out and rallies some fellow employees and his law-and-order foster family. In an exciting predawn mission they "free Willy" into the open sea.
The plot's predictable, none-too-original, and the title gives away the end. But FREE WILLY works swimmingly, thanks to well paced, rousing direction and a fine ensemble cast, led by the very good child actor Richter. Even with its excessive ecological propaganda, the script buoys up with surprisingly credible bonding between the alienated delinquent and a penned-up creature who, like King Kong or E.T., isn't bad; he just wants to go home. It's a cheerable, feel-good moment when the father joins his adopted son in the finale.
Longtime screen villain Michael Ironside plays the standard Hollywood-issue evil businessman, and parents should be aware of the animal-liberation indoctrination in the premise. At least the filmmakers followed their own preaching, and campaigned for the freeing of Keiko, the actual killer whale who stands in for an animatronic Willy in many scenes.
For a surprisingly adept FREE WILLY takeoff with a more exotic creature, check out the gentle monster movie Dragonworld.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
