Michael Ledo 1988 Barrow Point, Alaska.This film is based on a true story and includes news feeds from that era. Three migrating whales are trapped in the ice due to early freezing. It was a fluke they were reported on in the first place. Once attention grew, unlikely forces and alliances came together to save the whales. This included an oil company, Greenpeace, US and Soviet governments, the military, Eskimos, the community, private entrepreneurs, and a Barbie reporter. That was the Big Miracle.The film contains the right mix of drama and comedy in this heart warming tale on what people can accomplish when they come together.The end of the film shows a clip of Sarah Palin, then Heath, as a sportscaster.Family safe.

MartianOctocretr5 In the late 80's, a family of whales become trapped under the polar ice cap near Barrow, Alaska, before they can begin migrating southward. Local news, and a an angry environmentalist stir up support for the trapped whales, making the plight of the whales world news. Soon efforts to help them are undertaken as the new aquatic celebrities fight for survival.There's certainly a point of view taken to one side of the environmental issue, but this movie is gentle and sentimental enough to get away with it. There's one event in the whales' battle for survival that is handled especially well on an emotional level, without becoming schmaltzy or exploitative. It's hard not to be involved with the endangered animals or what their fate may be after this sequence.Acting is generally effective, although I hope the environmentalist played by Drew Barrymore was not as abrasive and irritating as shown in this movie. Barrymore is a great actress, but I was hoping one of the whales, or anybody, would slap her face and shut her up in a few places.Overall, some harmless feel-good material. A nice family movie.

Raul Faust Well, first I'd like to warn you that this movie is not to be taken seriously. Rachel is a Greenpeace member that tries everything in her power to save three wales that are about to die, due to geographic changes in the environment. In my opinion, the movie is full of cheesy moments, mainly those whose performance was made by Drew Barrymore. I have nothing against her, nor have I seen other of her projects, but her acting in her feels campy, delivering an inauthentic main character. Another problem with this film is the high number of characters, appearing all the time; at times I had difficult to distinguish who was who. Other than that, the photography directing is exceptionally beautiful, making you adore the scenario they have built. Also, I understand that many people felt moved with this picture, but it simply didn't get me going. I mean, it's not like the humans were killing or making light of the wales' problems, given that the trouble was simply geographically natural. It was just nature following its way and being cruel as it sometimes is. So, to wrap things up, "Big Miracle" ends up being just ordinary and bringing nothing new to the genre, but easy entertainment.

plutus1947 I have no hesitation in giving this movie a 10 rating and if I could give it more I would.Drew Barrymore has come a very long way since her fresh faced appearance at age seven in ET and as far as I am concerned it is down to Drew herself. She has had many problems in her past and she has overcome them all for which I applaud her without hesitation.In fact the Barrymore family has had a great deal of trauma over the years but still they keep producing truly great people for the movie world.SPOILER BEGINS Big Miracle is a strange little story based on fact about three California Grey Whales who were trapped under the ice in a town called Barrow in Alaska.The Inuit Eskimos kill whales, not for fun or profit, but in order to live but this little town worked tirelessly to make sure that a small piece of ice was kept from freezing over in order for the whales to be able to come up for air.When Greenpeace discovered what was happening Rachel Kramer (Barrymore) the Greenpeace campaigner for whales in Alaska tried to get the US Government to launch a rescue to save the whales. The actual name of the campaigner is Cindy Lowry.The three whales were mother, father and son. They were named Fred, Wilma and Bam Bam in the movie but two of them were actually called Crossbeak and Bonnet.In the film sadly the baby died, which I believe actually happened.I won't tell you what happened to the two remaining whales, you will have to watch the movie.The incident showed the cooperation that can be achieved between unfriendly nations because the Russians had an icebreaker in the area and offered to break the ice in order to make a pathway for the whales to escape to open water. Eventually Reagan, the President at that time agreed.One of the most poignant things for me was when the Russian Icebreaker arrived it raised not only the Russian flag but the US flag too. This did actually happen.What is so ironic is that the Russians were one of the worst nations for whaling at that time but it was they who offered their assistance in order to free the animals they once hunted down mercilessly.SPOILER ENDS.There were several lesser know actors in the cast but each and everyone played their part superbly.Drew Barrymore (Kramer) and John Krasinski (Adam) were ideal choices for their respective roles.The writing and direction was flawless in my opinion.I don't know if this movie is going to be put up for any awards but I certainly hope so and I hope it wins at least a few.I will never understand the human race. With all the hate, greed and uncaring there is in this world the whole world was praying for the survival of these not so little creatures and the US Government spent over five million dollars in order to try to save them.There must be hope for humanity yet.