The film Big Miracle is set in the far reaches of our world; in the cold, isolated town of Barrow, Alaska. With a close connection to the land and it’s animals, the local people live a life mostly cut off from the outside world.
Directed by Ken Kwapis (He’s Just Not That Into You, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants), this based-on-a-true-story rescue tale is told and executed in a fantastic manner, and is both charming and engaging.
In Barrow we meet intrepid young news reporter, Adam Carlson (John Krasinski), who’s on a mission to further his career as a news journalist and presenter. Although the town is somewhat unexciting, it’s easy to empathise with Adam’s enthusiasm for the job as well as his infectious charm with the locals. In a far less remote setting we meet Rachel (Drew Barrymore), a young Greenpeace activist who is fighting on the side of nature and animals, and is first seen being thrown out of a press conference where a new oil drilling deal is being announced.
Whilst out shooting some footage towards the end of his time in Barrow, Adam sees an usual sight two adult and one baby Gray Whales, trapped in a small breathing hole in the ice. With winter approaching these whales missed their chance to get to open water and are now stuck too far inland, with only a hole in the ice to allow them to breath. The situation is dire, as there’s nowhere for them to swim to without drowning, and the effort of keeping the hole open is slowly driving them towards dangerous exhaustion. Adam captures this story and it quickly spreads like wildfire across the globe the plight of the whales capturing the world’s heart.
Unbeknownst to the whales, their situation is the catalyst for a whole series of events. It becomes apparent that the film is not really about the whales, but about the people who are affected by them. This subtlety is what sets the film apart from most generic family flicks, as it actually has some real depth to it. Although the characters are themselves simple and the plot relatively straightforward, the strength of the film is the portrayal of the lives of the characters who unite to save the whales.
There are some strong dynamics evident in these relationships: the USA government and the Russian government trying to work together (despite the Cold War still raging during this 80s set tale), the relationship between Adam, Rachel and another news journalist, the dolled-up news presenter Jill Jerrard (Kirsten Bell), who is the polar opposite to down-to-earth Rachel. There are more dynamics set up between the traditional people of Barrow and the influence of the modern world on their way of life; which is one of the most poignant relationships in the film. All of these combine throughout the film to make for engaging but still light-hearted viewing.
This film is definitely recommended family viewing as it touches on some very important issues of both a global and personal nature. It’s heart-warming and simple nature will allow children to find it entertaining and the story of the fight to save the whales is told in an adult-enough fashion to keep Mom and Dad entertained too.
Overall Verdict: Big Miracle is a real delight, and one that will be a pleasure for adults to watch as well as children. There’s a great story with plenty to learn, an interesting insight into the lives of the people in such remote places, and a great cast that really brings this tale to life.
Reviewer: Kevin van der Ham