Miracle en Alaska

Yes, there were simplistic clichés, but for a PG-rated movie and the confines therein, Big Miracle is about as good as it can get. The Inupiat people, the reporters, the extraction industry - all sides were treated with a degree of nuance. The take-away message was really important too - that you can accomplish things with people you don't agree with or even like. And we really enjoyed the efforts made to set the film properly in its late 80s period.

I disagree with the other reviews that found the special effects lacking. I don't think they detracted from the story, which in the end was quite compelling.

Managed to see this on DVD from my public library. It is based in real events in 1988, but many of the characters have been fabricated or named something different from the person they were taken from.

It is outside Barrow, Alaska in the fall, cold weather is a bit early and the ice begins to freeze sooner than usual. This traps a whale pair and their young offspring.

John Krasinski is reporter Adam Carlson in Alaska and one day happens to notice something on the ice. He spots the whales repeatedly surfacing through a medium sized hole in the ice, but because it would require a 5-mile swim under ice to get free and swim south, the three whales are stranded at the hole.

Drew Barrymore is a conservationist who wants to attract more attention to saving the whales, while the local native Alaskans are thinking about "harvesting" the whales for food. Ted Danson is J. W. McGraw, a wealthy businessman wanting to drill in the Arctic, he ends up under pressure of publicity donating a hovercraft barge to be used as an ice breaker. Kristen Bell is too pretty as the California reporter Jill Jerard who ends up going there also and reporting some of the developments.

This is basically a family movie, cooperating to take care of the environment. Plus, when they were not able to get the hovercraft there the Russians ended up saving the day, using their ice breaker to free the whales, after Alaskans had used chainsaws to cut a series of holes in the ice closer and closer to the open sea, to allow the whales to make progress.

Pretty interesting movie.

Big Miracle dramatizes the real life struggle of three gray whales trapped in the ice near Barrow, Alaska. While my daughter told me what happens before we saw the movie, I still enjoyed the movie for its heart-warming and touching story of humans and nature.

Big Miracle has an ensemble cast that was very good. Drew Barrymore, in particular, did an outstanding job as a Greenpeace activist trying to save the gray whales. And, Ten Danson was fun as the oil magnate who sees an opportunity to help save the whales for some good PR.

The highlight of the movie was the Inupiat actors, who were charming and added warmth to the movie. The grandfather Inupiat stole every scene with his strong and quiet presence, and he provided several funny moments. His young grandson was also outstanding as the young friend to John Krasinki's character.

Big Miracle, however, did move slowly and many scenes seemed forced in drawing laughter or empathy. My wife and I enjoyed the movie for its touching story and appealing characters, but our kids said they were bored and uninterested. At the very least, catch Big Miracle at a matinée.

Okay, The Big Miracle is not an epic or a grand movie. What it is, is a totally enjoyable feature with a good and simple story with no unusual surprises that people can relate to. It is good to see the Hollywood factory machine put out a movie like this. Much credit has to be given to Drew Barrymore (sort of a mogul herself these days).

Ken Kwapis does a really good job in telling this story without relying on massive special effects. He also works very well with his actors. He was given a good script from Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, both of whom also resisted going for any kind of cheap humor.

Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski have a nice chemistry together as they deliver fine performances.

This movie was, I am told, inspired by a true story about a small town reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who are joined by rival superpowers to save a family of gray whales that are trapped by ice in the Arctic Circle.

The story, the visuals and the very fact that whales are a main character in this movie, all tug at the heart strings.

Bravo for creating a refreshingly clean family movie! It's encouraging and rare these days to have an opportunity to view a film the whole family can enjoy. Big Miracle is a wholesome, educational and entertaining movie that I happily recommend to anyone struggling like we often to to find a movie suitable for the under 15 crowd, that adults will also enjoy.

Big Miracle is loosely based on a true story and utilizes TV news clips from the Reagan era that we felt made the film very realistic. Ancient traditions, multi-generational challenges, morality, ethics, friendship, love and social responsibility are weaved into a story set in beautiful Alaska that made us laugh, cry and cheer along with the characters - it was a fun adventure into a world we didn't know much about.