FLIPPER
US, 1996, 97 minutes, Colour.
Paul Hogan, Elijah Wood, Chelsea Field, Isaac Hayes, Jonathan Banks.
Directed by Alan Shapiro.
Updated treatment of the TV series, with Elijah Wood as the moody teenager who has to spend the summer with his eccentric uncle Porter and who discovers Flipper and finds himself - a touch of `Free Flipper', with an environmental message. For those who like watching dolphins, what can one say? There is plenty of dolphin footage, but hard to tell which are real and which are animatronic dolphins. The big puzzle is how such an American boy has such an Ocker uncle. Paul Hogan makes no attempt at an American accent - and does a few of his comic turns from his old TV shows. Working with someone else's material enables Hogan to be himself and enjoy it. Free Flipper!
1.Entertaining family film? Message film about families, young troubled adolescents becoming more human, environmental and marine questions?
2.Memories of the television series? Characters, situations? The dolphins?
3.Colour photography, Bahama locations? The island, the sea? The underwater photography? The photography of the dolphins? The marine life? The musical score?
4.The focus on Sandy, his arrival on the island, his uncle not there to meet him, his sullenness? Age, experience, the divorce? Wanting to know how much his mother paid Uncle Porter for him to be there for the summer? His attitude towards his uncle, disdain, the mess in the house, the meals, having to go onto the boat, get up early? His wanting to go to the concert? Clash with his uncle, trying to be the big man? Sick on the boat? His decision to run away, the phone calls? The meeting with Kathy and ignoring her, meeting Kim and attracted towards her? At sea, the Bounty Hunter and the behaviour of Dirk Moran? The shooting of the dolphins? His concealing the dolphin from Moran? The befriending of the dolphin?
5.Going on the ferry, his uncle taking him back home, the coming of the hurricane, the shelter, the devastation of the boat and the house? The confrontation with his uncle? The deal that he would clean up? The promise of the concert? His work, meeting Flipper, throwing the can, being pushed into the water, swimming and communicating with him? The beginning of a change of attitude? His meeting with Kim, showing off to her? Flipper and his tricks - the need to be fed, getting the dollars from the kids and getting Flipper to perform? Marvin and his being shy, liking Flipper, going into the water? Uncle Porter's dim view of the behaviour, taking the money, reprimanding Sandy, making him work, making him smoke the cigar (and his being sick while his mother rang)? The issues of the Coast Guard wanting Flipper to go back to sea, his having to give him up? Going out with Kim on the boat, almost being mown down, the discovery of Moran depositing the toxic waste? The Coast Guard unable to do anything? Going out with Kathy, with Marvin's inventions? Testing the bottom of the ocean, the camera and Flipper finding the toxic waste? Sandy and his staying behind in the lifeboat, his being mown down by Moran? The stingray and the pursuit, Flipper saving him, Moran saving him? The rescue by Uncle Porter? The proving of the case? The arrest of Moran? Flipper to go back to sea? The end of the holidays, his mother and sister coming, going back home? Hoping to come next summer, the bonds with Uncle Porter, Kathy and Marvin, with Kim? Looking at Flipper as he sailed back to the mainland? A typical sullen young boy, the city background, his resentments, change of heart, the experience of the dolphin, his transformation?
6.Paul Hogan as Uncle Porter - his laconic ocker style, no change of accent? Friends with the girls, with Kathy - but resisting all questions about marriage? Lackadaisical, the mess in the house, the spaghetti rings, blowtorching the toast? His relationship with Sandy, helping him on the boat, with Flipper though resistant? The hurricane? Getting the boat fixed, doing the deal with Sandy for the work? His taking the money after the performances? The question of the lack of fish, people selling up, his not being able to fish? Arguments with the Coast Guard, unable to prove Moran's guilt, the confrontations with Moran and his backing down? Flipper and the photography, finding out the truth, punching Moran, his arrest? The Coast Guard? The farewell to Sandy and the affection? Paul Hogan and his typical remarks - humour, irony, a touch of comedy?
7.Kathy, her work with the Navy, her concern about Marvin? Helping with the science and the investigation? The friendship with Sandy, the bonds with Porter?
8.Marvin, quiet, the raincoat, his inventions, attracted by Flipper, going into the water, his camera, coming out of himself and finding friends?
9.Kim, attracted to Sandy, his showing off with Flipper, their feeding Flipper and getting the money, accompanying Sandy in the boat, on the expedition, good friends?
10.Moran as hostile, his crew, fishing, guests, their arrogance? Shooting the dolphins? The confrontation with Porter? Depositing the toxic waste? Denying it, mowing down Sandy then saving him? The arrest?
11.Buck and the Coast Guard, not believing at first, the change of heart, especially about the arrest? Letting Flipper stay?
12.Life on the island, the tropics, the sea, fishing, prosperity, lack of prosperity?
13.A family film? Characters, issues, especially family? The importance of environmental issues and the sea, toxic waste? A message film for families?
