Plot: What’s it about?
It has been two years since Jesse (Jason James Richter) helped his killer whale friend Willy escape from captivity, but he still fondly remembers his pal. His life with his adoptive parents is going well and seems to improve all the time, though a wildcard has just entered the household, in the form of a new child. Elvis (Francis Capra) has just been taken in by the family and there is some tension between he and Jesse, mostly due to Elvis’ penchant for lies and deception. But Elvis is not just some kid off the street, he is Jesse’s half brother and since their mother has died, Elvis was moved in with Jesse’s new parents. Through all this turmoil, Jesse’s mind turns to Willy and though he knows he’ll never see his whale bud again, he can’t help but wish for it to happen. Soon after, Jesse and his family take off on a vacation in the Pacific Northwest, a serene location that is facing a severe environmental crisis. As it turns out, Willy is in the waters near the area, along with his own family, but this proves to be a bad time to swim in those waves. An oil tanker has beached and spilled an immense amount of oil into the waters there. As if that wasn’t enough, the oil has caught fire and Willy & his family are trapped inside the flames. Can Jesse hatch a plan to save his best friend, or will this be the final encounter between the buddies?
I’ve seen Old Yeller and numerous movies of its kind, in which a child becomes attached to an animal of some kind. Although a lot of them work and carry genuine emotion, Free Willy played like an environmentalist propaganda picture, devoid of real emotion at all times. In fact, it almost seems like a commercial most of the time, instead of a heartfelt drama. Even so, it raked in some cash at the box office and of course, produced a couple of sequels. In Free Willy 2, we have the same kind of premise and once again, it seems to be more concerned with preaching about the environment that delivering enjoyable family entertainment. This sequel however, offers even less excitement and adventure than the original, which I didn’t think could be possible. A few cast members return, including lead Jason James Richter, but come on, what else could have been doing? Yes, Free Willy 2 is harmless in terms of actual content, but it contains no real emotion, drama, comedy, or adventure. Instead, it seems more like a doomed after school special about the dangers of littering. If you’re a fan of the original Free Willy, then chances are you’ll enjoy this sequel, but The Adventure Home won’t bring new fans into the fold. Warner’s disc is solid, but offers minimal supplements, so perhaps a rental is the best recommendation.
As this is his sole path into movies, Jason James Richter returns as Jesse, the role that has defined his career. Then again, he’s only had a few other efforts and of course, those weren’t in high profile or successful pictures. If you’re interested in why Richter’s career hasn’t blossomed, simply watch these three whale movies and it will become rather obvious, as Richter isn’t that skilled in front of the cameras. He mugs for the lens when he needs to, but lacks depth as a performer and fails to carry his share of the load. I mean, we all knew the mechanical & natural whales would upstage the poor kid, but come on, you can almost hear the audience begging Willy to devour the little brat at times. I wouldn’t expect a top flight effort from anyone in these movies, thanks to the poor material involved, but I did expect better than this. Other films with Richter include Free Willy, Cops and Robbersons, Laserhawk, and The Setting Son. The cast also includes Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Donnie Brasco), August Schellenberg (The Siege at Ruby Ridge, Out of Time), and Myketli Williamson (Forrest Gump, Streets of Fire).
Video: How does it look?
Free Willy 2 is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. I am thrilled to see Warner release this widescreen only edition of one of their family releases and of course, I hope this trend continues in future releases. And the image is quite good also, though some minor issues arise here and there to lessen the enthusiasm. But unless you’re a stickler for detail, you should be more than pleased with this presentation. The print has some nicks at times, but is mostly clean and allows for a bright, sharp overall visual presence. No complaints to be made with color or contrast either, as the hues seem bold and vivid, while black levels remain on target throughout. Again, I commend Warner for giving this widescreen only edition, as even children’s films deserves to be seen as intended, so let’s hope Warner continues down this path.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is fine and acceptable, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 option never gets much of a chance to shine. The surrounds are used for the musical score and some assorted background atmosphere, but little else. I know this isn’t an action blockbuster, but it could sound better than this, or at least more active and immersive. With all the splashing water, oceanic noises, and such, the potential is here, but this mix fails to put it to good use. But the audio is solid, it just isn’t as memorable as it could have been. I found dialogue to be well presented, with no lost or muffled vocals to mention here. This disc also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a brief behind the scenes featurette, a Michael Jackson music video, a whale guide, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
