Dolphin Tale 2 Gives Winter Hope
From the moment Dolphin Tale hit theatres, families fell in love with Winter the dolphin but the story continues with Dolphin Tale 2 where Winter has Hope.
Sequels can be tricky to keep the attention of the audience but Dolphin Tale 2 delivers based upon a true story.
Many do not know but on the night of the wrap party was held for Dolphin Tale, a very young dolphin was rescued paving the way for the sequel. Her name was Hope.
The movie begins with Clearwater Marine Hospital drawing so many visitors and explained why the name was changed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Winter is the star of the movie again but when her best friend Panama dies she is left all alone and becomes withdrawn to even Sawyer Nelson, played by Nathan Gamble. The USDA gives Dr. Clay Haskett, played by Harry Connick, Jr., 30 days to find a suitable female companion for Winter or she will be transferred to an aquarium in Texas.
Their goals of rescue, rehab, and release come under question during the movie when a new rescue Mandy would make a great companion for Winter but Dr. Haskett has to make a choice that seals the fate of both dolphins. Hazel Haskett, played by Cozi Zuehlsdorff, is distraught at her father’s choice and questions his loyalty to Winter. When Many is released into the wild, all hope is lost for Winter when her transfer orders come in.
Ashley Judd returns as Lorraine Nelson, Sawyer’s mother, and encourages him to leave Winter and go on a marine biology trip but it is Dr. Cameron McCarthy, played by Morgan Freeman, who truly understands what Sawyer is going through.
On the night of a big party, one tiny dolphin is rescued and her name is Hope. She was too young to learn about living in the ocean from her mother so she cannot be returned to the wild and must stay at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
With Winter’s future uncertain and doubts that Hope would survive the entire team is discouraged. What occurs next is extraordinary.
The cast returns to Dolphin Tale 2 making it feel seamless. Kris Kristofferson plays Clay’s father Reed, Autin Stowell plays Sawyer’s cousin Kyle, and Austin Highsmith is Winter’s lead trainer Phoebe. A new addition to the movie is Champion surfer Bethany Hamilton, who plays herself in the movie and has a beautiful sequence of her interaction with Winter.
Rufus the pelican is back to his old tricks creating chaos and laughter but this time Rufus has a new best friend. Mavis the turtle cannot go anywhere without Rufus standing guard over her in an unusual and comedic friendship.
Just like the original movie, stay through the initial credits to see live footage of the events surrounding Hope’s rescue. If you stay long enough you will hear Cozi’s beautiful debut song called Brave Souls she wrote and sang for the movie.
The ability of just one dolphin to inspire so many children and adults in two movies is heartwarming. If you cannot visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, be sure to go see Winter and Hope in Dolphin Tale 2. Two dolphins guaranteed to change your heart and make you cry.
Dolphin Tale 2 | Twitter | Facebook | #WinterHasHope | SeeWinter
Parental Advisory
Dolphin Tale 2 is rated PG for mild thematic elements but is a movie the entire family can enjoy. Panama is an dolphin who dies of old age about 40 years old. It can be disturbing to young children to see Panama deceased. Additionally Winter attacks Sawyer in a brief incident that shows dolphins are not pets but wild animals.
[quote]Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment’s Dolphin Tale 2 continues the story of the brave dolphin Winter, whose miraculous rescue and rehabilitation—thanks to the invention of a groundbreaking prosthetic tail—made her a symbol of perseverance to people around the world and inspired the 2011 family hit movieDolphin Tale.[/quote]
Dolphine Tale 2 swims into theatres September 12, 2014.
Media tickets to an advanced screening were provided to facilitate the Dolphin Tale 2 movie review.
