Let me be totally clear: this is NOT the kind of film I usually watch. I just have a pile of random DVDs I'm determined to work my way through... no matter how unappealing they seem. Kids-bonding-with-cute-animals movies are as old as time immemorial, and commonly stick to a rigid formula... and this entry is no exception. Let me outline the central conflicts, to give you a general idea:1. A loner schoolboy, who's only friend seems to be his champion swimmer cousin, finds an injured dolphin on the coast. Will he befriend it, swim with it at his local aquarium, help it's rehabilitation and in turn, overcome his natural shyness?2. The kid is at summer school. Will his mother, after an impromptu visit to the sea life centre, agree to withdraw him from all his classes so he can play with the fishes all season long? 3. Oh I forget to mention earlier... the cousin is also a soldier, and is partially paralysed while on duty. Will the script draw parallels between his injury and subsequent depression, and that of the dolphin losing it's tail fin and refusing to eat? 4. The cousin's physio is played by none other than Morgan Freeman (You know, that guy from the insurance ads). Do you reckon, that he'll be able to help the cousin get over his funk with an 'Inspiring Speech' (One of MANY in the film)?5. That Morgan Freeman is a talented guy... he can also design prosthetics. But... can he do one for a dolphin to help it swim, and will there be many failures before he FINALLY get it right near the end (Thanks to the kid noticing a flaw in his plans, of course)? 6. The aquarium is in danger of closing due to lack of funds, a problem which is exacerbated by a random storm which destroys half the building. Will they be able to raise the cash by exploiting the dolphins disability to hold a big Open Day, or are they going to have to sell their assets to the sushi and tuna factories? If you answered NO to any of these, then you're a big dummy... so leave the room. Everything you could want from an uncomplicated heartwarmer is here, including a orchestral soundtrack which swells whenever something 'touching' happens, and a full ending montage of the schoolboy getting rather, um... 'close and personal' with the dolphin. So... it's an efficient piece of manipulative drama, with the added bonus of no swearing or toilet jokes. But not for me. Thank you, and goodnight. 5/10

Not since "The Blind Side" have I seen a film suitable and interesting for all ages that was as good as "Dolphin Tale". From the moment Nathan Gamble discovers "Winter" on the beach, I found myself tearing up on and off. This is the kind of general audience movie that deals with serious issues in an entertaining fashion. All the performances are at least adequate, and many are excellent, especially the two kids. There are some moments that pander to those looking for cuteness, such as the repeated shenanigans of the pelican, "Roofus", or the out of control toy helicopter, but most of the film deals with the story itself, and I, at 72, truly enjoyed it thoroughly. When I read some of the negative reviews here, I felt sorry for those who so lack empathy that anything which is very sentimental is automatically discarded as corny or tearjerking. Well, in 1953, when I first saw "Shane", I realized how a film could move me powerfully to the point of tears at age 12. And from then to today, my favorite films are almost always those that can truly move me and are not afraid to be unabashedly sentimental. Dolphin Tale is definitely in that category.If your idea of a great movie is "Ted", or "Stepbrothers", or "The Fast and the Furious", stay away.

I had NO IDEA what to expect, other than it was about a hurt dolphin. As I am nuts about dolphins, I had hopes that it would be good. But I was GREAT. I had tears in my eyes at the end. The cast was all solid and good. And you couldn't see what solution they would find for the financial difficulties and when they did find a solution, you will be so happy and relieved.And maybe, like me, you will want to shout at the screen that dolphins aren't animals, but of the fish/aquatic family. OK, they have to breathe air. Does that make them animals? I don't think so. Whales also have to surface for air, but nobody calls THEM animals.Lovely, wonderful movie with an excellent cast. If you are like me, and grew up with Flipper, etc., you will enjoy it tremendously.

This is a "fuzzy feel good" movie about the love between a lonely boy and an injured dolphin. Sawyer(Nathan Gamble)on his way to summer school finds a trapped dolphin on the beach tangled in a crab trap. The injured dolphin is taken to an animal hospital ran by Dr. Clay Haskett(Harry Connick Jr), who is forced to remove the dolphin's tale to save its life. Haskett's young daughter Hazel(Cozi Zuehisdorff)agrees with Sawyer that if only the dolphin could feel and swim normal it would survive. By the help of Dr. Cameron McCarthy(Morgan Freeman)hope comes to reality when a prosthetic tail is successfully accepted by the dolphin. Connick Jr is faultless in this role. The cast is rounded out by Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Francis Sternhagen. An uplifting movie for the entire family.