TIGER CRUISE

US, 2004, 88 minutes, Colour.
Hayden Panettiere, Bill Pullman, Troy Evans, Bianca Gibson, Nathaniel Lee Jr.
Directed by Duwayne Dunham.

Tiger Cruise is a Disney film of 2004, designed for the family, as well is something of a morale-booster and a plug for the Navy and sense of duty for American citizens.

The basic plot is quite simple, young relatives of personnel on a ship are invited annually to go for a cruise from Hawaii to San Diego to experience life at sea and understand what their relatives were doing. There are four children to focus on: Joey, a very little boy who likes ice cream and is to be with his mother on board, Tina whose sister is a pilot and she is an enthusiast, Anthony, surly African- American boy from New York who is not happy being on board and is resentful for a lot of the trip. But the main focus is on Maddie, Hayden Panettiere, who is longing for her father’s love and affection and wants to come to persuade him to come back home and leave the Navy.

There are many of the usual events on board, especially planes taking off and landing. But, the third day of the trip is 9/11. In the uncertain atmosphere, the ship is being put on alert, weapons taken aboard, no communications especially as no planes are flying over the US. The film focuses on the sense of duty and how the authorities handle the situation as well as the people on board, and the children. Maddie has been put in charge of liaison with the children by her father and gradually learns his sense of responsibility and understands it.

1. The title? Relatives of serving Navy personnel having a cruise with their family to understand and see the Navy at work?

2. 2004, the memories of 9/11? Recreating the period on the ship? In retrospect?

3. The focus on the four children going on board and their stories? Maddie, clashing with her sister, secretive from her mother? Tina and her admiration for her sister, incessant talking on the plane? Anthony, his father sending him to the ship, his brother’s request, surly? Joey, very young, farewelling his father, eager to see his mother?

4. Hawaii, the ships, the US Arizona site, recounting history, respect?

5. The children, meeting their family, coming on board? Tina and her officer sister, pilot? Anthony and his brother? Joey and his mother? Maddie and her father as second in charge? Being accompanied by the personnel, finding their bunks, the gatherings, the speeches, exhilaration at the trip?

6. The various days, numbered, activities on the ship, the children getting to know one another? Maddie and her discussions with her father, wanting him to give up the Navy and come home? His listening, talking with his wife on the phone, promises?

7. The disobedience, going onto the deck to photograph the planes taking off, their being caught, reprimanded by the captain, the information that there had been a death accident previously? Maddie and her apology? Anthony and his still being surly?

8. Chuck Horner, his son the cook, wanting something better for him, the cook and his sense of responsibility and enjoying his work?

9. 9/11, the effect, seeing the television footage, the closing down of all communications, the ship being put on alert, taking on more weapons?

10. The effect on the children, Maddie’s courage, her father asking her to be the liaison with the children? Anthony watching television and the news? The children crying and wanting to be together, watching a movie? The uncertainties?

11. Chuck, his anxiety about his brother in the Pentagon, putting pressure on Maddie’s father, her father standing firm, the brother missing? Chuck and his backing down, his talking to Maddie, praise of her father is a good officer?

12. Going into San Diego, families reunited, Maddie and her listening to her father, seeing his responsibilities, the situation, allowing him to go back to sea? Tina and a greater sense of realism? Anthony and his learning some lessons?

13. A morale booster of 2004 and a Disney family film, in the context of the experience 9/11?