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Dolphin Tale
2011 113 min United States of America PG 6+
★7.2
Drama, Family
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A sea of animal rescuers — and a lonely boy in need of a friend – nurse an injured dolphin back to health after it loses its tail in a trap.
Budget:
$37M
US Gross:
$72.29M
Worldwide:
$95.4M
Starring
Harry Connick Jr.
Actor
Ashley Judd
Actor
Nathan Gamble
Actor
Awards
4 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
Dolphin Tale is widely regarded as a sincere, heartwarming family drama that effectively leverages its real-life inspiration to deliver a message of hope and perseverance. While some critics find the plot conventional and the reliance on Hollywood stars occasionally distracting, the film's wholesome tone and emotional resonance with younger audiences and animal lovers remain its core strengths.
| Emotion | The film succeeds as a wholesome and sincere family drama that effectively champions messages of perseverance and the power of human-animal cooperation. | |
| Acting | The lead performance by Nathan Gamble convincingly captures the protagonist's emotional growth from a shy, isolated boy into a capable and empathetic team member. | |
| Acting | The inclusion of recognizable actors like Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd provides star power, though some viewers feel their presence is unnecessary compared to a more documentary-style approach. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative follows a conventional and predictable structure that some find comforting and effective, while others view it as unexceptional and lacking in complexity. | |
| Cinematography | Opinions on the technical presentation are split, as some viewers praise the cinematography and score, while others criticize the quality of the CGI underwater sequences. |