How sad is this?

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Inspired by actual event that occurred in 1988, "Big Miracle" deals with the great lengths people will go through to save whales who are in great danger. Set in the secluded fishing town of Barrow, Alaska, Anchorage reporter Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) is sent to investigate the troubled three gray whales, he feels this is a great opportunity that is surely going to attract the news. No sooner, reporters, journalist and all media outlets arrive on the scene including Los Angeles reporter Jill Gerard (Kristen Bell) look on as to wonder if the whales will survive or die.Rescuers like Greenpeace activist Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore) who is Adam's ex-lover leads a group of rescuers on the scene to help saves these giant sea mammals. While her no-nonsense determination isn't winning her any friends, the whales seem to be getting the bulk of the attention, especially in the realms of public relations. Such PR opportunists include oil tycoon J.W. McGraw (Ted Danson) who happens to be Rachel's rival, who joins in to help and to get a good PR deal. He lends his hovercraft over to the National Guard. Meanwhile Colonel Scott Boyer (Dermot Mulroney) can't get right onto the mission because of the Arctic air and several townsfolk gather to help whatever they can to keep the whales from dying.Krasinski is the perfect choice for the role as Adam with the guy-next-door charm and likability, but still his character doesn't fully live up due to the lack of depth which truly makes him underdeveloped. By way of contrast, Barrymore has more poise and energy as the busybody activist who both dedicated, but vulnerable in the situation and media attention she's getting. Though her performance and her familiar face in the Hollywood mainstream will likely take notice from her fans, it's a shame that the on-screen chemistry between Barrymore and Krasinski seem quite lacklustre.The ensemble sparks quite the myriad of familiar faces. Veteran performer Ted Danson if effective as the cantankerous oil tycoon, who later changes his ways is a welcome addition to the plot. In what appear to be a light take on rescue mission it's good to counterbalance that with a hard-nosed guy like J.W. McGraw into the mix. In addition to that it's quite refreshing we have an elderly performer involved in what appears to be a film centred around a cast that's predominately young. Kristen Bell as hotshot reporter does her usual thing by being spontaneous and cute, but has a great chemistry with Krasinski and hoped that they would become a couple.Dermot Mulroney has the smart looks and sympathetic heart as Col. Boyer,in spite of his hardcore military dedication that make him firm, but fair. The narration is spot on by relative newcomer Ahmaogak Sweeney whose Inuit background adds authenticity to the plot. In addition to that, his acting was no too shabby either.Though based off the novel by Thomas Rose, the script was penned by the duo of Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, they seem to have a knack of making family themed film and in "Big Miracle" we can feel that in in the cool Arctic air. Despite the concerning topic of saving troubled animals, the vibes feels a bit saccharine and light like a family comedy you would see on the Hallmark station. Sure we're introduced to the variety of characters and their backgrounds very nicely albeit cliched and fall into the trap of archetypes. I give credit to the writers for running the plot smoothly and never meanders and keeps the characters in tact in spite of the threads and huge ensemble.Once the story starts to settle, the plot remains intriguing as we anticipate the next scene. in hope that the hard work and effort, the rescuers try to save these poor whales (to those who never read the book). It's here where we find some interesting and fascinating traits about the story and the characters. Though they are archetypes, they are three-dimensional. And it's not all light and sugary as there is a dark scene that leave looking for a tissue box nearby.Director Ken Kwapis succeeds in bring many subplots and plenty of depth with the huge ensemble that never felt underused or bogged down. Sure it feels sugary sweet in tone, the heart and emotions will like grab at your heartstrings. The characters are likable with no major antagonist (except for the ice and the harsh weather). The pace is spot-on and vocal and special effects of the whales look authentic. If there's a critique the feel of the movie has TV movie feel to it.Though I like inspiring tales of how humans saving animals which brings great joy to me, "Big Miracle" left me with a satisfying aftertaste. It made appreciate humanity and all the good things its done in spite of the negative reputation we get at times. It will touch you in many places including the heart and mind and that's what counts most.

Big Miracle (2012): Dir: Ken Kwapis / Cast: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Dermot Mulroney, Kristin Bell, Stephen Root: The big miracle in question regards three gray whales trapped in the freezing Arctic and the declining time to free them. This is based on a true story set in 1988 that will appeal to wildlife lovers, and while the concept is appealing, the screenplay suffers from extreme corny situations and dialogue as well as being pretty much presented in the trailer. Structure is pure formula with an ending that is clear from the start. Director Ken Kwapis did his best work with the wonderful Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants as well as mediocre comedies such as Beautician and the Beast. Drew Barrymore is the star power of the film. It is annoying hearing her constantly wail, "the whales are gonna die!" On the plus side she has appeal as she aims to free the whales and even challenges politicians to claim her cause. She even takes to diving under the ice to get up close to the two adult whales and the baby. John Krasinski does well as a news reporter covering boring stories in the Arctic until he comes across the whale situation. He had a past relationship with Barrymore and urges her to calm down. Supporting roles are cardboard including Dermot Mulroney as a military pilot headlining the ice cutting via helicopter. Kristin Bell does what she can as a Barbie doll reporter out for ratings. Stephen Root plays the harassed official pushed into action by Barrymore. The wildlife presentation is strong but its corny payoff works against it. Thankfully the whales are a miracle of their own. Score: 6 / 10

It seemed like everyone went out of their way to save those three whales. Why? Granted their life span is comparable to a humans, but they're just whales. Nature is cruel, and the whales' situation was not uncommon. Should people spend millions of dollars to rescue ever future whale or seal trapped in ice? No, of course not. I'll say it again, nature is cruel. Animals die. It happens every second of every day, and it has been that way since the dawn of time. Some whales get trapped in ice during migration, while others make it safely to their destination. Instead of saving those whales, the money could have been spent on fixing the environmental pollution, recycling, something, anything else! Those whales shouldn't have gotten trapped like that!

There are quite a few technical errors in this movie. Normally these may not take away from the story but in this case some did. Some were so ridiculous that they became a big distraction in the scene. When you see this you question the validity of the rest the movie.Actors that may have been good in other movies seem to struggle in this movie. Both overacting and under acting was evident throughout and in some places, "no acting". Many slow scenes, some were trying to convey a message but that was lost in the poor performances. Even though I think it was a poor movie for most adults, I think most kids might find it enjoyable.