Review: Dolphin Tale 2

PHOTO CREDIT: OFFICIAL MOVIE POSTER

BY SARA MANTZ

Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale 2 is a dramatization of the rescue of the bottle-nose dolphin, Hope, and the continuation of Winter’s story. The first movie followed the true story of Winter, a dolphin that was found in the coastal waters of Florida, entangled in the ropes of a crab trap. The ropes cut off the blood supply to her tail and resulted in its loss. Winter was brought to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and, thanks to a groundbreaking prosthetic tale; she was able to make a full recovery. The sequel follows the story of Hope, the newest dolphin resident at the CMA. She was discovered beached in the shallows of Indian River Lagoon as an orphaned 2-month old calf. It was ultimately determined that Hope was not a good candidate for release because she was very young and did not learn the necessary survival skills in order to thrive in the wild.

The CMA is a real life non-profit organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured marine mammals. Numerous forms of marine life are permanent residents at the CMA, all of which have serious injuries that prevent their return to the sea. The aquarium strays away from petty dolphin shows, unlike most aquariums, and focuses more on true public education and conservation of our oceans.

Dolphin Tale 2 is a solid film that does not quite compare to its predecessor, but all of the heart is still in the right place. Children revel in the movie with its lovingly filmed sequences of dolphins frolicking with each other and their human companions. All in all, Dolphin Tale 2 is a family movie and would be enjoyed by a family with young children.