Big Miracle

Loosely based on Thomas Rose's 1989 book Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event (about a real-life rescue in the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska), this family-friendly tale revolves around the plight of three gray whales trapped under thickening ice in the Beaufort Sea. As told by a young Inuit boy named Nathan (Ahmagok Sweeney), Big Miracle begins when he and local TV newscaster Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) discover the cetaceans' predicament. Adam's heartfelt reports concerning the ever-shrinking hole that provides the marine mammals their only oxygen supply propel his ex-girlfriend—outspoken Greenpeace organizer Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore)—to rush to the Arctic Circle. When NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw incorporates Adam's footage in a report, it immediately sparks avid interest from environmental and animal activists. But not everyone—such as Alaska's governor, who activates the National Guard—is motivated by altruism, including a cynical, oil-drilling entrepreneur (Ted Danson) who lends his hover barge and catches the attention of Kelly Meyers (Vinessa Shaw) at the Reagan White House, ultimately leading to the international effort Operation Breakthrough after Reagan calls Mikhail Gorbachev for “ice breaking” aid from the Soviet navy. Directed by Ken Kwapis, this heartwarming film is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Ken Kwapis, a "Truth is Stranger Than Fiction" behind-the-scenes featurette (12 min.), deleted scenes with intros by Kwapis (7 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is "A Big Miracle in Alaska" location featurette (21 min.), and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a solid film.] (S. Granger)