Big Miracle - 'Meh'

A young, ambitious reporter in Alaska stumbles upon a family of 3 whales that are stuck under an ice sheet with one hole and 5 miles to the closest open ocean.  He performs a simple and humble report on the tragedy and the world is captivated by the human and animal struggle to save hope for all mankind. This tiny village must rally together under the evil, watchful eye of the mainstream media to get the whales to open water before the hole freezes up and civilization loses the will to go on! At least that was probably the pitch Greenpeace gave the studio when they bought the rights to this story.
Essentially, here's how I'd sum it up: Jim from 'The Office' spots three whales in the ice and calls one of 'Charlie's Angels' and Sam Malone from 'Cheers' along with anyone that owned a video camera in 1988 to come to northern Alaska and cut holes in the ice and help the whales to safety.
It's a feel good movie that reeks of Greenpeace holier than thou sermons and the evils of the Regan administration for being literally hog tied into helping out.  Jim from 'The Office' was right in character (there is but one dimension for this guy), Drew Barrymore was in rare Carl mouth form (it's in the hole!) and Sam Malone from 'Cheers' was the standard rich oil guy that is trying to get some good press and then starts to care about the whales just as all hope is about to be extinguished. The movie is based on a true story that took place in 1988 which makes it somewhat understandable as a dramatic representation or documentary.  But I'm not sure that's what they were going for here.  I vaguely remember something about there actually being news in the world around that time, but whales in the ice never hit my radar or I might have appreciated this more. Riiiiiiiiight.


I will say my family loved it. Young kids who love whales (you know who those are) and tender hearted wives that cry at commercials will love it as well. So it IS a good family movie. 
As long as your family loves whales, 'The Office', 'Charlie's Angles' and 'Cheers'.....on the rocks.


Class this as an OK family movie that you rent OnDemand.
PG for the cussing I and other Dads were doing after the movie.