Do you like whales? Do you like joy? Do you like happy endings? Do you like true stories that are joyous because they involve whales and happy endings? Then you will absolutely love Big Miracle, starring Drew Barrymore (America’s born-again sweetheart) and John Krasinski (the cutie from The Office we all wish we could date). Big Miracle is a movie adaptation of the inspirational true story of three California grey whales trapped in the ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, and how the three whales (which included a mother, father, and baby) were saved by the most unlikely of heroes.
Set in 1988, small town TV reporter Adam (Krasinski) discovers an odd sight while videotaping a friend. After investigating, Adam discovers three whales, desperately attempting to keep a small hole open in the ever-thickening ice as temperatures continue to drop to record lows. If the whales stop even for a few minutes, the ice cold temperatures would close up the hole, and without access to oxygen, their only means of survival is gone.
Meanwhile, Green Peace activist Rachel (Barrymore) is actively trying to prevent oil-drilling typhoon (Ted Danson) from drilling in the same town that the whales happen to be in. When Rachel hears news of the trapped whales, she snaps into action while Adam simultaneously submits a news story about the trapped whales that goes viral almost instantly.
Floods of reporters, journalists, and environmental enthusiasts arrive at Point Barrow to cover the event and to do what they can to help the whales. Along the way, a couple of brothers from Minnesota join the effort. The Native Americans of Point Barrow think first of harvesting the whales, because the year’s quota for whale meat had not been met that year. Yet, after realizing that killing the whales would be bad publicity for their town, they too commit to saving the family of whales.
One things leads to the other, and Rachel’s passion for saving the three whales (all lovingly named after the Flintstones family) Leads her to push the governor to recruit the National Guard’s assistance, believing that a giant ship of theirs could break the ice and clear the way for the whales. After this fails, President Reagan ends up calling the most unlikely of helpers, the Soviets, who are nearby with a ship that will be able to solve the problem.
By the end of the movie, the audience is left feeling not only proud of our fellow Americans, but also inspired by the international help and relieved by a happy ending for the whales. An all around feel good movie, Big Miracle proves that with big hearts, hard work – and sometimes a giant ship – incredible things, even miracles, can happen in the most obscure of places with the most unlikely of people.