1988 Barrow Point, Alaska.

This film is based on a true story and includes news feeds from that era. Three migrating whales are trapped in the ice due to early freezing. It was a fluke they were reported on in the first place. Once attention grew, unlikely forces and alliances came together to save the whales. This included an oil company, Greenpeace, US and Soviet governments, the military, Eskimos, the community, private entrepreneurs, and a Barbie reporter. That was the Big Miracle.

The film contains the right mix of drama and comedy in this heart warming tale on what people can accomplish when they come together.

The end of the film shows a clip of Sarah Palin, then Heath, as a sportscaster.

Family safe.

Inspired by a true story from the 80's, This follows newsman (John Krasinski) and animal activist (Drew Barrymore) who team up to help a family of grey whales trapped under closing ice in the Arctic, a story which becomes huge world wide news.

I really enjoyed this, way more than I expected to actually. It wasn't the cheesy, family fare I anticipated and while it was still predictable and I'm sure took some liberties with the real story it did it with such charm and heart that I didn't mind. I surprised by how invested and even emotional I got towards the outcome of this story.

It was also really nice to watch a movie about people, governments and businesses coming together for a cause ( big oil, military, politicians, the Inuit, Russians and Americans) a nice change of pace there. They don't make enough movies like this anymore.

Excellent (if somewhat surprising) cast attached here too: Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Baker, Ted Danson and several other familiar faces. 2/21/16

I expected to really dig this one as I am a 'animal-lover' (even though I think that term is corny) and a Drew Barrymore-lover alike (nothing corny about that term though).

But this movie was way too cheesy at times for me, like randomly showing a bunch of American TV-viewers (ridicolously fraudulent) reactions to the news- stories about the whales being trapped and dropping absolutely everything just to tune in, as if nothing in else in their