Synopsis
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Jason James RichterJesse
- KeikoWilly
- Lori PettyRae Lindley
- August SchellenbergRandolph Johnson
- Michael MadsenGlen Greenwood
- Jayne AtkinsonAnnie Greenwood
- Michael IronsideDial
- Richard RiehleWade
- Mykelti WilliamsonDwight Mercer
- Michael BacallPerry
Recommendations
- 100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Free 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. - 90
Washington Post
Actually, the film's more serious side is beautifully balanced by the joy we experience as both Jesse and Willy come into their own. - 90
Time
The 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. - 88
Chicago Sun-Times
The 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. - 80
The New York Times
How each frees the other is the stuff of Free Willy, which is as engaging as such films can be without offering rude surprises. - 80
Washington Post
There are extremely touching moments between Jesse and mystical Randolph, who seems to understand just about everything; and, more tellingly, between Jesse and mechanic Jim. - 67
Entertainment Weekly
It'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. - 63
ReelViews
This is one of those unusual films that is capable of enthralling those under twelve while not sending older members of the audience rushing for the exit.
