Based on an inspiring true story, a small-town news reporter (Krasinski) and a Greenpeace volunteer (Barrymore) enlist the help of rival superpowers to save three majestic gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle. ‘Big Miracle’ is adapted from the nonfiction book ‘Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World’s Greatest Non-Event’ by Tom Rose.
Big Miracle is not one of those whale tales that leaves the audience blubbering, but it's open to the allure of the imposing creatures, which resemble long boulders that have come to life.
– Liam Lacey,
Globe and Mail,
3 Feb 2012
rotten:
"Big Miracle" might be subtitled, "How Hollywood Turned a Real Story Into Bogus Fiction."
– Rafer Guzman,
Newsday,
3 Feb 2012
fresh:
If you're looking for a passable film to take the kids to this weekend, Miracle offers a smart enough take on its feel-good plot to keep adult viewers tuned in.
– Leah Rozen,
TheWrap,
3 Feb 2012
fresh:
There's something refreshing about a kids' movie that manages to get through its entire length without a poop joke.
– Stephen Whitty,
Newark Star-Ledger,
3 Feb 2012
rotten:
By-the-book dialogue and lame performances do the film no favours but, hey, worse things happen at sea.