Quickie Movie Review: "Dolphin Tale"

Rated: PG for some mild thematic elements
Starring: Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, and Winter the dolphin
Released: 2011

Synopsis: While riding his bike to school, Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) notices a beached, injured dolphin (Winter, starring as herself) in need of assistance.  After she is taken to the local aquatic center, her injuries become so bad that her tail must be amputated.  Winter learns to swim without her tail...but, it ends up injuring her in a way that could be potentially fatal.  With the closure of the aquatic center looming, and Winter not taking very well to the treatments, it seems that only a miracle will save them.
Based on a true story.

My Review: I don't usually do "true story" films, but, this one seemed interesting and kid-friendly enough for me.  It's actually great to see a movie that doesn't test the boundaries of its rating, as far too many flicks seem to do these days.  The core story is good, but, I did think there were a few too many characters; I kept getting mixed up as to who was who.  Still, fans of kiddie animal films such as the Beethoven series will find plenty to like.

Content Concerns:

Sex: None. 5/5
Nudity: Shirtless guys; a girl in a bikini; girls/women in short shorts; a woman in an off-the-shoulder top. 3.5/5
Language: Other than one usage of the d-word in a song on the soundtrack, as bad as it gets is "gosh," "heck," and "stupid". 4.5/5
Violence: The scene where Winter is beached is slightly bloody.  A hurricane hits, though all that is seen is the aftermath. 4/5
Drugs: None. 5/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Winter's adverse reactions; the aforementioned hurricane; a few scenes of emotional intensity. 3/5
Other: Sawyer skips school to help Winter. 4/5

Score: 3.5/5