Le coeur de l'océan

RELEASED IN 2010 and directed by Michael D. Sellers, "Beneath the Blue" chronicles events in the Bahamas when dolphin researchers clash with the US Navy over the latter's sonar program, which is killing dolphins. Caitlin Wachs plays the main protagonist, Alyssa, daughter of the dolphin expert (David Keith) while Samantha Jade & Leah Eneas appear as her besties. Paul Wesley plays Alyssa's mysterious beau and Ivana Milicevic his sister. Michael Ironside is also on hand as a Naval captain.

This is a stand-alone sequel to 2006' "Eye of the Dolphin" with Caitlin Wachs overtaking the role of Alyssa, which was previously played by Carly Schroeder. Caitlin is superior IMHO; she's just all-around beautiful, inside & out. The only two returning from "Eye" are the peripheral characters played by George Harris and Christine Adams.

In any case, this is a solid marine/island drama/adventure. It's similar to "Into the Blue" (2005) and "Into the Blue 2" (2009), but less of a thriller and more family-oriented; not to mention the focus being on dolphins. Don't get me wrong, there are some thrills and even a crime element, but "Beneath the Blue" is decidedly mild by comparison, with a heartwarming cast of protagonists and a perceptible reverent ambiance. While this wasn't a major release it's not exactly a cheapo flick either with its $2.5 million price tag.

Australian musician and co-star Samantha Jade performs the song that plays over the end credits, "Whatever I Can."

THE MOVIE RUNS 92 minutes and was shot in the Bahamas (Grand Bahama Island) and Santa Catalina Island, CA. WRITER: Wendell Morris.

GRADE: B

Hawk is a scientist studying dolphin communication in The Bahamas along with Duvey. His daughter Alyssa works with him and conducts tours of his underwater lab, but she wastes time diving as deep as she can when she is supposed to be working. And while working, she meets another potential distraction: a good-looking guy named Craig.

Hawk receives a threat from the Wildlife Liberation Front. Something is killing dolphins. It turns out to be the U.S. Navy testing SONAR equipment, which is vital to U.S. defense, though courts have ruled against its use. Admiral Blaine sees no harm in killing a few dolphins when the fate of our country is more important, and fishing kills many more dolphins than the Navy does. Hawk and his family make an effort to stop the Navy. One potential complication: one of Hawk's dolphins was a secret weapon trained by the Navy, and they want it back.

Meanwhile, will Alyssa and Craig have a romantic relationship? Maybe, but Craig has his own secret agenda. Alyssa saw him with the beautiful Gwen when she first met him, and he claimed she was his sister, but maybe she isn't.

The movie starts kind of slow and offers quite a bit of comedy, as well as some education about dolphin communication. Whether it is scientifically accurate or not I can't say, but the tours offer some educational value as tourists meet Bogie and Bacall. And the communication experiments with Rasca are informative and fun. Rasca also gets to play the Lassie role once with Alyssa. ("What is it, Rasca? Did Alyssa fall down the well?") Later, especially toward the end, there is quite a lot of action. It is quite entertaining and even occasionally funny, though most of the comedy is at the start.

I wasn't aware this was a sequel, so I can't compare, but Caitlin Wachs does a good job and looks great in a bikini. She spends most of the movie showing off her fit, tanned body. Her best friend Kits also spends some time showing off her body.

David Keith and Michael Ironside also do a good job here.

Christine Adams, the main villain from "Terra Nova", is nicer here as Alyssa's serious but apparently loving stepmother.

And George Harris is especially good as Daniel, the native employee in Hawk's operation.

This was a pretty good adventure.