FREE WILLY 3

US, 1997, 85 minutes, Colour.
Jason James Richter.
Directed by Sam Pilsbury.

Once again, reviewers wonder why a third episode needed to be made about the lovable whale and his adventures. However, children who enjoyed the earlier films will, no doubt, be eager to see further adventures. And there is something majestic about the whales and the beauty of the ocean and worrying about their plight.

1. The popularity of the Free Willy films? The focus on Willy and whales, the giant orca but sympathetic? Jesse and his looking after the whales? The subtitle of this film as The Rescue?

2. The need for sequels, audiences wanting more about the story of Willy? The strength of this story? A crowd pleaser?

3. The coastal locations, the town, the boats, the water? The musical score?

4. The focus on the whales, the schools of whales, Willy set free? Responding to the sound, following the boat? His ‘human’ understanding? Response to Jesse? The confrontation with Max’s father and sparing him? Willy being free and the whales being free?

5. The boat pursuing the whales, the harpoons, the techniques for tracking the whales? The illicit markets for whale meat to Japan, Norway and other countries? The profits to be made? The crew on the boat, Max’s father participating?

6. Jesse, his age, experience, research assistant? Going on the boat, the young woman and her immediate reaction? Randolph and his friendship? The captain? Their pursuing the whales? Getting the research? The discovery of the harpooners? The decision to help?

7. Jesse, his trying to get on the boat, asking for a job? Meeting Max? Going to the library, discussing the issue with Max, Max sympathising? Max and his help? Getting the evidence of the harpoons on the boat? Taking the research vessel, the girl allowing it, with Randolph? Their going to free the whales? The incident with Max’s father after the pursuit by the harpooners?

8. Max, his age, wanting to go with his father, his father taking him, the techniques of tracking the whales, harpooning them? Max and his hesitation? Falling overboard and rescued? His wanting his father to give up the job? On the boat, impeding the harpoons? His falling over again, rescued? His father in the water, Willy not harming him? The father’s change of heart, being with his son?

9. The film’s delight in showing the whales, their being free? The human response?

10. The gallery of characters, familiar from the previous films, types who were concerned about nature and the environment?

11. A pleasing, if slight, successor to the other Free Willy films?