Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove

Late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi stars in this new entry in the Free Willy franchise, as Kirra, an Australian 11-year-old living on a farm and helping out at her widowed father's veterinary clinic. When a fall lands dad in the hospital for six weeks, Kirra goes to stay with her grandfather, Gus (Beau Bridges), in South Africa. Gus manages a rundown amusement park called Pirate's Lair with handyman Mansa (Bongolethu Mbutuma) and his son, Sifiso (Siyabulela Ramba), but lately he's been losing customers to rival park owner Rolf (Stephen Jennings). During a storm, an orca loses contact with its pod and ends up in the lagoon by Pirate's Lair. Kirra wants to set him free, while Rolf wants to buy him, but Gus decides to keep the whale, whom Kirra names Willy and talks to about how much she also misses her own family. When Gus takes Kirra's advice and contacts animal rescue, marine biologists say they'll have to put Willy down if he doesn't learn how to communicate with other orcas—an essential life skill for the species. Kirra starts to teach him herself, but Rolf and his henchmen might steal him if she doesn't finish the lessons in time. Ably guided by director Will Geiger, Irwin and Bridges both perform nicely in this better-than-average family film. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)