Unignorable from cringe, “A Dolphin’s Tale,” is a childhood favorite. PHOTO CREDIT: Hulu.com
After a long week of school, classes, homework and clubs, sometimes I just want to come home and watch a nostalgic movie to unwind.
There is truly something about watching something from your childhood that brings a sense of comfort and untouched happiness that few other things in life provide. With that being said, there are a few films that continue to provide this sense of joy without being overshadowed by cringe.
I am not saying that “Dolphin Tale” is completely free of cringe, but unlike other movies of its time, the downfalls are vastly outweighed by the enjoyment.
“Dolphin Tales,” a family drama released in 2011, holds its heartfelt core a decade later. The movie tells the tale of Winter, a dolphin who loses her tail in a fishing accident. The viewer is constantly being reeled in by a sequence of hope and disappointment as to if Winter will survive, which is portrayed extremely well by the actors.
The movie has a happy ending where Winter can swim, and they can afford to keep the marina open which leaves the viewer on a good note in the best way possible.
One underrated aspect of the movie is the relationship between Sawyer and his cousin Kyle. As Kyle prepares to go off into the military, Sawyer is extremely upset, and when he eventually gets paralyzed, their dynamic is displayed in a really emotional way that grounds the storyline.
The two child actors that star in the film, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, have such amazing energy that really translates through the screen. You can tell that the two were genuinely having a fun time on screen. It feels like they are friends in real life and their interactions seem authentic, which makes it a more magical experience for the viewer.
I would say that the heart and soul of the movie reside in none other than Morgan Freeman, as per usual. He brings a calming sense to the screen and grounds the core message of the movie. Supplemented by amazing performances by Harry Connick Jr. and Ashley Judd, the film really has a stacked cast to back the bubbly kids who star in the movie.
No early 2000s movie is complete without a classic montage, and this one is absolutely no exception. The sequence of shots attending to Winter, fixing up the marina and Sawyer learning to take care of her is so fun. Any montage to the tune of “Sh-Boom,” as performed by The Chords, is a win in my book. It’s fun, catchy and really moves the film along.
Watching this movie again brought me back to sitting on the couch with my brother as a kid when stress was low, and spending time watching a movie was the most exciting thing to look forward to.
As a film major, you come across a lot of people who mark a good movie by the cinematography, shot composition or writing, but I do not think that always has to be the case. I think the mark of a good movie lies in how it makes you feel.
If it sparks joy and makes you smile, that’s what matters, and that absolutely holds true for “Dolphin Tale.”