Dolphin Tale 2

Enjoyable sequel that finds Winter the dolphin struggling with the death of her friend Panama. Meanwhile, Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) gets an offer to attend a special marine research program for three months but isn't sure he is ready to go. Like the first movie it's based on real events and the dolphins Winter and Hope appear here as themselves. The cast from the last one also returns, with reduced roles for Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Kris Kristofferson. But that's okay because the two kids (now young teens) and the dolphins are the stars. There's a budding romantic subplot with Sawyer and Hazel that is six kinds of cute. Also fun is the comic relief pelican that has a subplot involving a turtle. It's a nice, positive family movie with a likable cast and good message.

"You can't just throw two dolphins in the water together."

And that's basically the only conflict driving the plot for this sequel. I was a huge fan of Charles Martin Smith's first film starring Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail, but there isn't anything appealing about this sequel which barely has a plot. I felt that there was never really much at stake here and many of the emotional moments felt forced, unlike in the first film where there was a lot at stake. There were a lot of fillings and subplots that never did anything to help build the pacing, and despite remaining family friendly, most children will probably be bored by this sequel. I never got engaged with it and perhaps much of that had to do with the weak script and the lack of conflict. The characters which I really liked the first time around didn't do anything for me in this sequel and I didn't feel that same connection they had with Winter this time around. Dolphin Tale 2 has all the right ingredients for a direct to DVD movie, but somehow it has been released in the big screen and received some positive reviews from the critics (only 4% lower than Interstellar according to Rottentomatoes). It astonishes me considering this film is formulaic and predictable with very little going for it. A week from now everyone will forget about it.

The true star of the franchise is Winter, but in this sequel we really don't get to see the dolphin all that much. There really isn't much at stake either, and we know how everything is going to play out. The cast is back again, which means we get some cameos from Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Kris Kristofferson, but they aren't given any substantial role this time around. The film centers once again on the child actors, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff, who deliver solid performances but don't add much to the story. From the first scene you can tell that the producers were simply trying to cash in after the success of the first film because there is not much going for it story wise. The true story is inspirational and the original film has touched many people's lives, but there wasn't any need for a sequel.

Just saw this with my movie theatre-working friend. We both enjoyed this true-life sequel about Winter's acting strangely especially after the death of a fellow dolphin early in the film. Since Hazel and Sawyer are a little older and practically young adults, there's a hint of a budding romance between them though the main focus is on Winter and another possible new playmate named Hope. All the cast from the previous one is back and Morgan Freeman's character is allowed to say some witty lines that my friend found funny while I was a little amused at them. Actor Charles Martin Smith is the writer/director and he appears as the guy telling the Harry Connick Jr. character he has 30 days to fix whatever violations he cited. In summary, Dolphin Tale 2 was pretty enjoyable for a true-life sequel.

This is a great family movie. Written based on the real story is reflects on the true motto of Clearwater Marine Aquarium: "rescue, rehabilitate & release" The movie does not promote cruelty or keeping animals in captivity. If the dolphin or the turtle health bill is good and the animal is able to survive on its own then the crew release it back into the ocean. Harry Connick Jr. plays Dr Clay Haskett, and when asked if it was possible for Winter to survive on her own would he let her go. His answer: right this minute! As it is the animals that stay in the aquarium are either too seriously injured or with other medical reasons (dolphin Panama, that was keeping Winter company, was deaf and not able to echo-locate food and feed herself) The acting is good, story line simple enough for kids to follow and some moments you find yourself holding breath waiting for what is next. And after watching the movie you may want to visit real stars Winter & Hope in Clearwater, FL.

Not as engrossing as it's prequel, nevertheless, a touching flick. The practical problems faced by the dolphins due to their complex emotional nature, the coming-of-age sensitivities of Hazel and Sawyer, the sangfroid Clay, the loyal supporters, the impatient Hordern make the environment a bit serious. In my opinion, the most impressive character is Clay who acts as a dutiful caretaker and a responsible father. He takes the right decisions regarding the animals, withstands the pressure from Hordern, calmly handles the kids and persuades George for an extension of Winter's stay. Freeman as Dr. McCarthy and grandpa Reed continue to provide the morale support. McCarthy's advice to Sawyer in a subtle way is lovable. I'm glad that the movie doesn't exhibit romantic or other melodrama, the emotional display is constrained. Overall, a somberly toned but commendable movie.