It’s over twenty years since we watched the family film ‘Flipper’ about a teenage boy and his special relationship to a dolphin. I didn’t remember much about it, other than that it was a somewhat bittersweet ending with some tension along the way.
I had quite forgotten that the show stars Elijah Wood as fifteen-year-old Sandy, well before he became a household name as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings series. He was apparently prolific as a child actor, and plays the part of the somewhat fed-up Sandy very competently.
Sandy’s parents, we quickly learn, are separating, and they have sent Sandy to stay with his uncle, Porter (Paul Hogan), for the summer. Porter lives in a ramshackle building on the coast of Florida, and mostly lives on canned food, which he acquires in bulk from various ships. He doesn’t much want someone around, and Sandy doesn’t want to be there, but when Sandy tries to run away Porter follows him and brings him back.
'Flipper' is a delightful film for all the family. I acquired it after spotting it on special offer, and having vague memories of a TV show with the same name in my younger days.
This film stars Elijah Wood before he became famous as 'Frodo' in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In this film, Wood, aged 15 at the time, plays Sandy. He is a rather morose boy who has been sent for the summer to stay with his Uncle Porter (sensitively played by Paul Hogan).
At first Sandy complains about everything and is determined not to have any fun at all. But then he sees Flipper, a friendly and very intelligent dolphin. A special relationship develops between the two of them, and Sandy's summer is transformed.
There are some rather tense moments - which is, I suppose, why this film is rated PG rather than U - and some unpleasant bad guys. But overall, we thought this is an uplifting story about the influence a dolphin can have over a moody teenager.
Watched with my husband - like me, he vaguely remembered the television series of the same name from our childhood - and our 17-year-old son who was a little cynical at first about watching a children's film. But we all enjoyed it very much.
Definitely recommended.
Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews
