Movie review: Dolphin Tale 2
It’s hard to top the story of how a wounded dolphin is saved by a prosthetic tail and a team of heroes.
Dolphin Tale 2 tries to recapture the spirit of the original based-on-a-true-story film by reassembling the cast and adding a few inspirational elements. However, the sequel falls short in delivering the sentimental impact of its predecessor.
It’s three years after Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) and Hazel Haskett (Cozi Zuehlsdorff) helped heal Winter, the dolphin whose tail was lost after being entangled in a crab trap. The youngsters, now older and wiser, are becoming leaders at Clearwater Marine Hospital in Florida. Sawyer trains volunteers and Hazel is following in the footsteps of her father, Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.).
The hospital has grown, too. It’s become a magnet for folks who want to see Winter. While the film reintroduces Winter at an animal show, the real-life Clearwater Marine Aquarium recently dropped shows from its expansion plan. Some of the most poignant moments of the original film were in the real-life footage of amputees and children with disabilities who were drawn to the dolphin with a prosthetic tail.
It would seem fitting that another inspirational icon, Bethany Hamilton, the accomplished surfer who lost her left arm to a shark and was the subject of the film Soul Surfer, would be added to this cast. But the montage of Hamilton swimming with Winter is indicative of the entire film — it’s beautiful to watch but doesn’t pack an emotional punch.
When Winter loses her surrogate mother Panama, the team must find a new companion or lose the dolphin to a Texas aquarium. The Hasketts face a dilemma of whether to please the owner of the hospital by keeping a newly rehabilitated dolphin to attract visitors or release the dolphin to the wild to fit with the mission of the hospital: rescue, rehab, release.
Sawyer is also struggling with a decision on whether to accept a full ride in a marine biology program at Boston University or stay at the hospital to help Winter, who is suffering after the loss of her best friend.
Ashley Judd reprises her role as Lorraine Nelson, Sawyer’s mom, and Morgan Freeman returns as Dr. Cameron McCarthy, both with limited screen time.
The original film was a critical and box office success because the bond between Sawyer and Winter was so aptly captured. The sequel lacks that joy and wonderment, leaving the audience longing for more.
This story was originally published September 11, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Movie review: Dolphin Tale 2 ."