Review of Big Miracle (2012) by Thomas W — 28 Jun 2012

A decent movie which is rather slow and boriing at times which is rather unfortunate as this is the kind of movie we'd want more people to see and experience as it is about ALL kinds of people (there is no red and blue here!) pulling together for the benefit of something else entirely.

It isn't a movie about a rich person getting richer or a beautiful person realizing that beauty isn't what is important in life. It isn't a cynical movie ... and that should be commended. The movie is based on true events (I don't believe we are given a year; but this occured a few decades ago when we were not on the best of terms with Russia) that happened in Barrow, Alaska when a family of gray whales became stranded near the city as the Arctic Ocean froze earlier than expected because of an early onset of winter (the whales usually migrate further south in winter where they aren't encased in waters frozen solid by the sub-zero temperatures).

Coming to the aid of the whales is a young news reporter (John Krasinski - "The Office", Something Borrowed, Away We Go) who first notices their plight and the trouble they find themselves in (the whales would freeze, suffocate and die under the ice cap).

He enlists the help of his Greenpeace pal (Drew Barrymore - E.T., The Wedding Singer, Boys On the Side) who knows a thing-or-two about animals and who might have some connections that could benefit the dire situation.

An eager reporter (Kristen Bell - Forgetting Sarah Marshall, "Veronica Mars", Burlesque) who will do anything to get noticed -- which comes in useful here -- and a military man (Dermot Mulroney - My Best Friend's Wedding, The Grey, About Schmidt) who can call in some favors lend a hand to the gigantic problem.

The movie is about big people and small people coming together to solve a problem ... it was from a period when things were not as polarized as they are now because we had a foreign enemy (such as Russia .

.. who also offers up some help in this film showcasing that "enemies" are not always the enemies we want to pretend that they are). This is an uplifting story (although rather slow ... it takes place in frigid temperatures so I guess the pacing is fitting) about people coming together .

.. perhaps THAT is the miracle anymore. Adding to the irony of that is the blink-and-you'll miss it cameo (actual footage!!) of a young Alaskan sports-anchor by the name of Sarah Palin! Big Miracle is an amazing true story and equally amazing is that it tells a story of a different America that isn't that far into the past.

The MIRACLE is that people got over differences and worked together ... something that needs to happen again.