Big Miracle is based on a true story, we get it. They made it explicitly clear in the commercials. Unfortunately, the story of a community in Northern Alaska banding together to save three whales trapped in ice, spends more time shoving an environmental story down your throat that they forgot to focus on the true heart of the story. Not once did the film give me the heart warming feeling I thought I would get from this. Yes it's sweet, and yes the way everyone bands together is uplifting but where is the heart? The two dimensional characters are to blame for a lot of that. John Krasinski spends more time making funny faces, and trying to be comedic than looking for any sort of dramatic turn. Drew Barrymore is the emptiest she has ever been and the chemistry between the two of them is non-existent. Add in a downright awful performance by Kristen Bell and a completely wooden performance by Ted Danson, someone I like a lot, and you have what can only be described as an empty film. Director Ken Kwapis comes from mostly Television and even more comedy. This isn't a comedy, or it shouldn't be. It should be a sweet drama. In some ways it is sweet and young kids may enjoy it but for adults it holds very little depth and will leave you feeling rather blah about the whole situation. 6.5/10
Review of Big Miracle
