ThiefHott Too much of everything

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Matthew_Capitano Sardine oil about a little punk kid who befriends a big whale named 'Willy'.Jesse is a troubled boy who is compelled to do things like goofing off on his summer job, kicking a public trash can off of its mooring, and throwing a baseball through his foster parents' window. But this is only because Jesse is scared since he doesn't understand his feelings. Maybe he'll understand if I put my foot up his butt.Meanwhile, hot Lori Petty is an animal trainer who spends her time working with Willy by riding around on his back all day long.... lucky Willy.The best moment in the film never arrives. That would be when Jesse tries to pet Willy. Go ahead, Jesse. Stick your whole head in his mouth, he won't bite you.... heh-heh-heh.

Lee Eisenberg OK, so "Free Willy" makes a point about animal rights, but it really could've dealt with the topic more seriously. I later saw Keiko while he was in the Oregon aquarium (and he showed the audience a little more than they bargained for, let's just say). They later moved him to Iceland, where he died in 2003. Personally, I don't think that they had to compose a new song for the movie, since the previous 25 years had produced a number of environmental songs (one of the best was Joan Baez's theme song for "Silent Running", a movie that now seems so realistic as to be redundant). But anyway, the movie is worth seeing.Oh, and props to Groucho Marx for the pun that I used in the review title.

Kyle Hodgdon I'm not entirely sure why this movie has the low rating that it does because I really feel that "Free Willy" is a pretty entertaining kids movie. I first watched this film in the theater when I was ten years old. I really enjoyed it at the time. However I could not remember it all too well so I decided to watch it again sixteen years later and I still thought it was a pretty good kids movie.When you watch this you must keep in mind that it is intended to be for kids, not adults. It's not something like "The Brave Little Toaster", which is a kids movie but can also be thoroughly enjoyed by adults. "Free Willy" is just a bit too silly to be taken seriously by adults.I mean, stealing a whale and driving all over town with him in the back of your truck? I think that just about sums up how ridiculous this movie gets. But kids do think about things like that. It's a good plot for a child.I think the 5.2 rating on IMDb is not a just one, but at the same time this film is not one of the best kids movies I have seen. I would recommend showing it to your child though.

vip_ebriega My Take: Familiar storyline is salvaged by touching moments. Think LASSIE as a harmless 3-ton marine mammal, specifically a 3-ton Killer Whale, and you got the concept of FREE WILLY. But don't let the predictable fluffy areas fool you! This is a surprisingly charming and oftentimes wonderful twist on the boy-and-his-dog plot line. It's sweet, a little predictable to be sure, but a noble and quite impressive movie of its kind. If your looking for a harmless, but entertaining, family diversion, I suggest to take a shot on FREE WILLY. If you don't find yourself assured, a rental might be fine.Perhaps one of the startling affair about FREE WILLY is that it doesn't solely concern the "dog" (the animal), but finds its time to for the "boy" as well. Instead of a movie heavily devoted on the save-the-animals aspect of the fable, FREE WILLY finds time to make the human dimension interesting and relevant. The "boy" of the story is Jessie (Jason James Richter), an orphaned boy forced to run amok the streets hang out with a bunch of trouble-makers. He picked the wrong place to mess with when he stumbles upon a too-small tank of a 3-ton Orca in captivity. Since he sprayed graffiti all over the walls, Jessie is sanctioned to clean the place up. He's also going to be assigned to his new adoptive parents (played by Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson). The moments where Jessie tries to adapt to his life under foster-parenthood isn't one of the film's best scenes, but granted, they're welcome addition to an otherwise predictable fare.Still, the moments between Jessie and the gigantic cetacean, as played by Sea World attraction Keiko as well as a believable animatronic double, is what basically FREE WILLY is all about. The moments between the boy and his whale are sweet and often tear-jerking on some occasions. Sure this thing has more "Save the Whales" slogan than any other film I've ever seen dealing with the same subject, but FREE WILLY does so with shamelessly but not dully. The movie doesn't make us go "Yeah sure! Save the whales already!". It does its predictable and preachy elements with relevance. We care about these characters, and to what might happen to them.The movie isn't flawless of course. With slightly glacial-paced midsection and a number of schmaltzy substance, FREE WILLY isn't free from its faults. But for sweet, feather-weight family entertainment, FREE WILLY still holds water. Your kids might love it. You might love it too. Consider that the surprise bonus in this cheerful little tale.Rating: **** out of 5.