Dolphin Tale

"Though garnished with some heavy dollops of cheese, Dolphin Tale is a surprisingly solid, earnest family picture."

"An eccentric Morgan Freeman (as a prosthetics designer) counterpoints the schmaltz in a film as slick, charming and eager-to-please as a SeaWorld cetacean."

"Pitched awfully young, without a shred of the satire or subtlety that is generally found in films aimed at tweeners and above. That's not a bad thing; it just means accompanying grown-ups or older siblings will have to choke down a sizable dose of schmaltz with their fish milkshakes."

"There's never any doubt the boy will find redemption in the beast, but Dolphin Tale deserves credit for sidestepping into darker waters: Sawyer's cousin returns from Iraq severely injured and depressed, though there's a grim inevitability about the fact he, too, is rehabilitated by the dolphin."

"Learning of this story, I thought, aw, come on, give me a break. But it turns out the story is not only based on fact, but the actual dolphin involved, named Winter, stars in the movie as herself. Her new tail functions admirably."

"This true story of a dolphin with a prosthetic tail has been precision engineered for full inspirational, heart-warming value."

"A good shout if your kids like this sort of thing, otherwise best head to your local aquarium."

"Dolphin Tale is as casual as a pleasant afternoon nap and about as substantive."