It’s not quite a miracle, but it is impressive how much Big Miracle respects the intelligence of its young viewers. Based on the true story of three whales that were trapped in the ice off the coast of Alaska, the movie makes room for all the complications the 1988 event involved: the hunting traditions of the native Inuits; the mixed motivations of the oil-company executives who lent rescue equipment; the ethical dilemmas faced by the television reporters who rushed to the scene. Heck, even the woman from Greenpeace (Drew Barrymore) is a complicated character. Along with Barrymore, the likes of John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Tim Blake Nelson and Dermot Mulroney are all on board, each a nice, light presence even as they take the project seriously. The actual story galvanized the nation – President Ronald Reagan even got involved – and at its best Big Miracle is equally compelling.
