It may not seem like it to most of the U.S., but there's a lot riding on the success of "Big Miracle," the big-budget movie starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski that was filmed in Alaska. The film's release comes at a key time, as the largest-budgeted of the films yet shot in Alaska using a lucrative film-tax credit that the Alaska Legislature must decide to let expire or extend this year.
The film -- which offers up a version of a true story about grey whales trapped in the sea ice above Barrow in 1988 -- used many Alaskan extras, actors and crew members, and has been a big part of the hard lobbying for the extension of the film credits, as companies bet big on the continuing economic drive of major film production in Alaska.
The previews for "Big Miracle" hadn't been particularly promising, depicting a strong environmental message and promising a feel-good and potentially cloying storyline. Drew Barrymore plays a wildlife activist, Krasinski plays a Barrow television news reporter, and Alaska resident Ahmaoghak Sweeney -- a newcomer to the cinema scene -- plays a prominent role as a friend of Krasinki's character.
But with the film's official nationwide release on Friday -- premiering in more than 2,000 theaters -- the reviews are starting to come in, and while they may not be completely enthusiastic, they're far from dismal. As of 10:30 Friday, the film was holding a 68 percent "Fresh" rating on film review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, with an even better score of 79 percent among top critics -- those critics writing for larger publications. The film held an 81 percent rating among audience reviewers, though it was still early in the window for the public release of the film.
Of course, the critical success of the film may have less bearing than the amount of money it makes at the box office, though both factors are important to the Alaska film industry in their ability to tout having worked on "Big Miracle." In the end, the "Filmed in Alaska" credit that concludes the film likely won't matter as much as incentive of the state's tax credits. After all, even box office duds and critically panned movies have to film somewhere.
Below, a smattering of what critics are saying about "Big Miracle."
The Good
Lou Lumenick, New York Post:
"'Big Miracle' shouldn't really work, but it does. It's an exciting, charming and often quite funny family film inspired by the real-life 1988 rescue of three gray whales trapped in ice near Alaska's northernmost point."
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post:
"The movie generally avoids melting into a fondue of sentimental cheese and teachable moments. Part of that is thanks to the first-rate cast, which keeps things breezy."
The Lukewarm
Neil Smith, Total Film:
"That everyone has their own motives doesn't make us less receptive to a happy outcome. Rather, it serves to dilute the saccharine that would otherwise cling to the story like barnacles on a flipper, turning what could have easily been another Free Willy into something a little more astute."
Stephen Witty, New Jersey Star-Ledger:
"'Big Miracle' is hardly brilliant ... I suspect a lot of critics will give the film the back of their hand.
But as a parent, there's something refreshing about a kids' movie that manages to get through its entire length without a poop joke. And something undeniably sweet — especially these days — about a story that shows people finding ways to overcome their differences, however briefly, just to do one good thing."
The Ugly
Rafer Guzman, Newsday:
"Director Ken Kwapis insists on false warmth at every turn, even forgetting that in 50-below weather you ought to see a breath cloud or two. 'Big Miracle' might be subtitled, 'How Hollywood Turned a Real Story Into Bogus Fiction.'"
Ella Taylor, NPR:
"'Big Miracle' doesn't have much of a plot, other than the comic escalation of interested parties who descend like vultures on the tiny town, hoping to convert the whales' plight into all manner of capital. Given this vast human ensemble, it's no wonder the beasts themselves, played by startlingly lifelike animatronic creatures built in New Zealand and shipped to Alaska, get edged out of the action."