DOLPHIN TALE
A heartfelt true story that respects life, with spiritual concerns.
Should You Watch It?
DOLPHIN TALE is an emotional, entertaining drama about a boy who finds purpose while helping a wounded dolphin. It respects life, values care for animals, and celebrates the possibility of healing for people carrying deep wounds.
The film’s strongest moments are heartfelt and funny. Morgan Freeman gives a superb performance as a doctor who makes prosthetics for veterans, and one scene points clearly to the excellence of God’s design. The movie is not flawless: some acting is over the top, and there are too many storylines to follow.
The main concern is spiritual. Hazel prays to her dead mother, and the film includes a Chumash story about dolphins and a goddess. You can take the trip with your family, especially if your children are old enough for a thoughtful conversation about those ideas.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEleven-year-old Sawyer is withdrawn after his father leaves and his college-age cousin, Kyle, joins the Army to fight in the Middle East. Then Sawyer discovers a beached dolphin caught in a fisherman’s trap.
With Hazel, the daughter of animal doctor Clay, Sawyer names the dolphin Winter and begins helping care for her. As Winter’s future, the Marine Rescue Center, and Kyle’s recovery all come into question, Sawyer finds something worth caring about.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means DOLPHIN TALE is very good entertainment, though it falls short of excellence. The film is directed with incredible heartfelt moments and several funny ones. Its emotional story gives Morgan Freeman room to shine as the doctor who makes prosthetics for veterans and eventually tries to help Winter.
The movie’s dramatic flaws keep it from reaching its full potential. Some acting is a little over the top, and there are a few too many storylines to keep up with. Not every story is neatly resolved, although the film’s basis in a true story partly explains that looseness.
The Worldview
DOLPHIN TALE presents a light Christian, morally uplifting worldview. It respects life, supports stewardship of the environment, and celebrates the excellence of God’s creation. Morgan Freeman’s doctor looks at Sawyer’s hand and marvels that he cannot make anything nearly as good with prosthetics.
The film’s spiritual ideas are less consistent with a biblical view. Hazel prays to her dead mother, which will trouble many Evangelicals and Jews, though it may not trouble those who believe in communion of the saints. The film also retells a Chumash story in which a goddess rescues children who fall from a rainbow bridge to paradise by turning them into dolphins. Clay initially rejects the idea that dolphins are people, but then tells Sawyer the story.
The movie’s central affirmation of life connects with Scripture’s wonder at God’s design: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light Christian, pro-created life, morally uplifting worldview which is also pro-stewardship of the environment marred by a re-telling of the Chumash Indian pagan story that dolphins are human beings turned into dolphins by a goddess when they fell off the rainbow bridge to paradise and the little girl Hazel prays to her mother instead of God, but a medical doctor talks about the excellence of God’s creation compared to what he can do with prosthetics; two very light obscenities and two “Oh gosh” exclamations; threats of violence, pelican attacks people several times, dolphin gets caught in fisherman’s trap and has bleeding wounds, man goes off to Middle East war and comes back very wounded, several shots of wounded soldiers in veteran’s hospital, several shots of disabled children and adults, powerful hurricane almost destroys marine life hospital in Florida; no sex; men and women in bathing suits; no alcohol; no smoking; and, boy skips school to take care of dolphin and doesn’t tell his mother for a week and boy sneaks into marine animal rescue hospital, but he is rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Sawyer begins to care again after finding a wounded dolphin. How can caring for another living creature help someone who is withdrawn or hurting?
Galatians 6:2 · Philippians 2:4The doctor marvels at the design of the human hand. What parts of creation make you praise God for His wisdom and craftsmanship?
Psalm 139:13–14 · Romans 1:20Hazel prays to her dead mother, and the film tells a story about a goddess and dolphins. What does Scripture teach about whom we should pray to and trust?
Matthew 6:9 · Deuteronomy 18:10–12Kyle returns from war severely wounded. How can a family or community help someone who is carrying physical or emotional pain?
Romans 12:15 · Galatians 6:2The Final Word
DOLPHIN TALE is a moving, funny, life-affirming film with memorable performances and a few distracting flaws. Its spiritual ideas call for discernment, especially with younger children. For families ready to discuss them, it is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
