
Fishermen separate a young orca whale (Willy) from his parents and he ends up in a fish bowl at a marina. Meanwhile, a street kid runs afoul of the law and gets caught vandalising the marina, but his social worker gets him off the hook (so to speak) provided he cleans up his mess at the marina. While there, he befriends the whale and teaches him tricks, something the trainer hasn't been able to do. But when Willy is a dud in front of the audience, the marina owner plans some ... (Full plot summary below)
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Fishermen separate a young orca whale (Willy) from his parents and he ends up in a fish bowl at a marina. Meanwhile, a street kid runs afoul of the law and gets caught vandalising the marina, but his social worker gets him off the hook (so to speak) provided he cleans up his mess at the marina. While there, he befriends the whale and teaches him tricks, something the trainer hasn't been able to do. But when Willy is a dud in front of the audience, the marina owner plans some bad things, and the boy and his friends must try to (*** MAJOR SPOILERS ***) free Willy.
Leave your thoughts about Free Willy.
| VarietyLeonard KladyAn astute, intelligent family picture, the film is a potent reminder that you can have your heart in the right place and still produce a gripping, satisfying entertainment. |
| The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick GroenFree Willy (for some strange reason, that tiny imperative just gives me the giggles) is a family picture that stays safely within the haven of a cozy formula, yet does a whole lot of inventive work in the process. |
| Filmcritic.comChristopher NullMichael Madsen as a "good guy" foster father? Lori Petty as a whale trainer? Who cast ths movie!?). |
| Washington PostHal HinsonActually, the film's more serious side is beautifully balanced by the joy we experience as both Jesse and Willy come into their own. |
| TimeRichard CorlissThe movie hits every emotional button with a firm fist. It makes the phrase feel-good sound like a command from the industry's P.C. Patrol. |
| Los Angeles TimesMichael WilmingtonThe movie is sure to be appealing to younger viewers (they may find it more accessible and certainly less frightening than "Jurassic Park"), and it's smart enough to keep older viewers involved, too. |
| Common Sense MediaCharles CassadyA wayward boy befriends a moody killer whale. |
| The New York TimesVincent CanbyHow each frees the other is the stuff of Free Willy, which is as engaging as such films can be without offering rude surprises. |
| Washington PostDesson ThomsonThere are extremely touching moments between Jesse and mystical Randolph, who seems to understand just about everything; and, more tellingly, between Jesse and mechanic Jim. |
| Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanIt's an irony too significant to ignore that the movie, which proselytizes against penning up whales in order to make them do cute tricks for humans, spends much of its time making Willy do cute tricks for humans. |