Dolphin Tale (2011)

Want to see a movie with two cute kids and a dolphin? Dolphin Tale is based on a true story. It starts when Sawyer’s cousin, Kyle, goes overseas… he’s in the military. Sawyer is very distressed and unhappy. Kyle gives him a parting gift – a beautiful knife engraved with the words, “Family is Forever”.

They had a close relationship but now Sawyer is on his own. While out riding his bike he and an old man see a stranded dolphin on the beach. It is wrapped in ropes from a crab cage. The man is distracted and has to go rescue his fishing pole and chair, but Sawyer approaches the dolphin and is filled with compassion.

He pets it…

Can you imagine being the poor dolphin actor being wrapped in a rope and left on the beach? He must have trusted humans quite a lot!

The man tells the boy to get away from the dolphin but Sawyer ignores him and continues to unwrap the rope and pet the dolphin, lovingly.

Enter the marine animal rescue team from Clearwater Marine Hospital. They drive up in a rescue van. One of the rescue team members is a girl about Sawyer’s age. Later in the movie you learn her name is Hazel.

They put the stranded dolphin on a stretcher and carry her to the van. Her tail has been injured and was bloody.

Next we see Sawyer at his elementary school, where he’s enrolled in summer classes. It is clear to see he’s not fond of school and that the teacher isn’t fond of him either. After that negative experience he goes to the Clearwater Marine Hospital and sneaks in through a door marked “Emplyees Only”.

During this scene we meet an odd but delightful actor – a pelican named Rufus. Hazel named him Rufus because he likes to sit on the roof. Rufus is a pro at attacking and frightening people, but he doesn’t hurt them.

Inside, the hospital looks more like an aquarium than a hospital. Hazel comes by and finds Sawyer, who shouldn’t be there, but she’s determined to show him the injured dolphin he came by to visit.

When he returns home he logs onto his computer and looks for information on dolphins. Then dolphin vocalization. His mom comes home to find him sleeping in front of the computer.

Next day he again goes to the marine hospital back door and sneaks in to see the dolphin.

Apparently the dolphin is suffering from an infection from the tail injury. This time Sawyer is apprehended by Hazel’s father, the veterinarian who works there. When Sawyer visits the dolphin, who is now named Winter, they realize that every time he’s there the despondent, ill Winter wakes up and makes “tweety bird sounds”. He’s told he can return the next day and decides to skip school. He surprises his mom by being ready to go early.

Unfortunately, when he reaches the marine hospital Hazel is sitting there crying because Winter’s tail fin had to be amputated. Now the dolphin won’t be able to swim.

She really likes Sawyer and introduces him to her grandfather who turns out to be Kris Kristofferson. Funny how that works in the movies.

Hazel asks Sawyer, “What does your dad do?”

Sawyer says, “I don’t know – he left about five years ago – he never calls, never writes. So what does your mom do?”

Hazel replies, “She died when I was seven – never calls, never writes.” She smiles and takes Sawyer to the nest on top of her grandfather’s home, telling him she’s homeschooled. Obviously she’s having more fun with her homeschooling than Sawyer is with his boring summer school class at Mildred Helms Elementary School!

That’s as far as I’m going with my play-by-play description of what the movie is like. I’m sure you get the picture. Two kids, a crippled dolphin, a cousin overseas in the service, a mom who will be furious when she learns her son isn’t in school, and lots of emotional family drama.

I recommend the movie to anyone wanting to see gorgeous dolphin play, or who would like to know what it is like to work in a marine hospital.

You can buy it at Amazon: Dolphin Tale (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]

You can see Winter online at See Winter. Cool!