Fantastic!

Excellent but underrated film

Absolutely brilliant

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

I rarely rate films. This one I had to. Despite all minor shortcomings related to making, scripts, whatever...this is a truly inspirational heart warming movie that will appeal to everyone. This is based on a true story of Winter, the handicapped dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. While at points you may find the story or making of the film geared towards the younger audience in particular, the message delivered is universal. If you have the slightest sympathy towards the marine life or the environment this film will touch your heart. I have enjoyed it and I believe most of you will. Can't believe some of the harsh reviews.

This is a "fuzzy feel good" movie about the love between a lonely boy and an injured dolphin. Sawyer(Nathan Gamble)on his way to summer school finds a trapped dolphin on the beach tangled in a crab trap. The injured dolphin is taken to an animal hospital ran by Dr. Clay Haskett(Harry Connick Jr), who is forced to remove the dolphin's tale to save its life. Haskett's young daughter Hazel(Cozi Zuehisdorff)agrees with Sawyer that if only the dolphin could feel and swim normal it would survive. By the help of Dr. Cameron McCarthy(Morgan Freeman)hope comes to reality when a prosthetic tail is successfully accepted by the dolphin. Connick Jr is faultless in this role. The cast is rounded out by Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Francis Sternhagen. An uplifting movie for the entire family.

If there is one word to describe this movie, it's inspirational! The characters display great emotional depth with well developed story line. The link between Winter, the real life dolphin who suffers a damage and eventually removes the tail, and Sawyer's cousin, Kyle, who is injured during his time in the marines, is touching and uplifting simultaneously. The bond shared by Winter and Sawyer (who is, at the beginning of the movie, a reserved and almost friendless boy) is what every kid would want; the close bonding between Sawyer and Kyle shows that 'Family is Forever', and the friendship developed by Sawyer and Hazel is one to adore.Struggling to keep up with the financial of the aquarium, at the same time helping Winter to swim normally again, sold this movie like none other, apart from the nicely done effects. Scenes that leave lasting impacts include when another handicapped child travels for hours just to visit Winter (how Winter inspires the many lives of human beings), and Sawyer and later Dr McCarthy's comments on Kyle's selfishness. Of course, great job to the cast for delivering an honest, believable and true performance. If the entire length of the movie is heart-warming enough, wait until the video clips of Winter at the end of the show- you will smile because you cannot cry.I may be biased in this review, in such that i am passionate about the marine life- definitely, to swim with the dolphin, or Winter herself, is a reward. But putting that aside, this movie is one to watch, worth watching and worth remembering. I believe the rich values of this movie will propagate with great length- never give up! I felt uplifted after the movie, and i'm sure you will too.

I have several thoughts about this movie: First of all, I find it VERY difficult to find movies that both kids & adults can enjoy together, and this is definitely one! Second, I was hesitant to watch this myself, because it disturbs me to see animals hurt (like the animal-cop reality shows). Luckily, that part was downplayed. Third, as an amputee myself I'm hyper-aware of the way in which people (or animals!) with disabilities are portrayed. This movie is very positive, not sappy or condescending at all. Finally, it offered a "teachable moment" for me & the 10-yr-old I was sitting for. Very touching, though--made me cry several times.