Darryl M
At the center of our story is Annabel, a young happy-go-lucky woman living with her grandfather. Everything in Annabel's life is turning up roses: living the beach life with a loving parental figure and a dolphin for a best friend. Our antagonists are quickly established as Anna's other set of grandparents swoop in with the shadiest lawyer to whisk her away back to the states. What could've been a simple story is surprisingly sweet, mostly due to the development of the characters and the strength of the actors. What begins as a relative innocent movie progresses to a frantic ending that will keep viewers engaged throughout.
Acting wise, Tyler Jade Nixon anchors the film as Annabel, our quirky heroine who's life is just as sunny as the island she lives on. Annabel is carefree with no worries (ah, to be young again) and Nixon plays the part wonderfully. Peter Woodward is the highlight of the film (sorry, Mitzy), showing a nice range of caution, jolly, distraught, and a hint of what could become desperate loneliness. Paired with Woodward is Dionne Lea Williams and together they have a comfortable chemistry that's equally believable and sweet. Bob Bledsoe's mustache-twirling Robert Carbunkle also shines and it's plain to see Bledsoe is having an immense amount of fun playing the shifty lawyer.
Directed by Mike Disa, Dolphin Island is no easy task: along with an ensemble cast of humans, Disa also makes great use of Mitzy; the titular dolphin of the story and Annabel's best friend. Mitzy's use is sporadic at first, but as the third act ramps up, the perpetually helpful mammal becomes just as important as Annabel. Disa also has a great eye for both the camera and characters on the screen. Props must be given to the cinematography: full use of the gorgeous blue waters, white sands, tropical settings, and bright sun are put on display here. The establishing shots are marvelous to see and Disa chooses not to skimp on them.
Overall, Dolphin Island is an incredibly sweet, fun film that can be enjoyed by all. A wonderful family movie with warmth, heart, and earnestness, it's a joy to watch. Solid performances, lush visuals, and good directing all combine to tell a feel good story in a tight, tidy 91 minutes. In a world that's become increasingly bitter, uplifting movies are always appreciated and this one is a fine addition to a weekend movie watching playlist.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/25/22
Full Review
Audience Member
What a fun adventure for the whole family!
OK, I'll admit it. I picked out this movie because it had 'dolphin' in the title. Like any little kid I just couldn't resist it... And I was most pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this cute tropical adventure! I wasn't the only one, though, everyone in my all adult household liked it!
A few things that I really appreciated about Dolphin Island:
-The filming location. Obviously not an indoor set/stage. Nope, this movie has some of the most gorgeous scenery and it gets its time in the spotlight.
-The movie is family oriented and has a Christian vibe to it without being too preachy.
-The liberal use of humor, Jonah 'Grandpa' is snarky and gets some of the absolute best lines. He had my family laughing quite often and he fast became my favorite character.
Shakespeare it is not, thank goodness, but Dolphin Island is a fun and entertaining family movie that is sure to appeal to kids and even grab the attention of adults. It's cute, it's adorable, and hey, the dolphin even gets to save the day...
(I received a copy of this movie from Entertainment Squad. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/13/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Dolphin Island is a fun, family-friendly film. The photography was quite good and the location was lovely.
Anna's story was touching - orphaned at five years old. And her loving grandfather, Jonah, gave up his career as a history professor at Cambridge to take over her care and run the marine institute her parents had founded. Jonah was quite realistic in that he got angry when provoked and made a couple of poor choices that added conflict to the story. The friendship between Anna and Mitzy, the dolphin, was sweet! I liked watching them swim and play together.
I really appreciated that there was no foul language and that even though they were in a tropical location, there wasn't an overabundance of skin on display. Ana wore a one-piece swimsuit when she was in the water and dressed tastefully and modestly when on land.
While lighthearted for the most part, a conflict brought a somber element that helped balance the rest.
My husband and I both felt that the acting was, at times, a little over the top. Especially at the beginning. Some situations were simply implausible - and not just because the film targeted a younger audience.
Overall, I recommend this for anyone looking for a wholesome film for the whole family to enjoy.
Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I enjoyed the movie. Hit some good topics with what the people were going through in the movie and gave the emotions to their experiences. Also, I love the fact that they incorporated the local people from the Bahama's into the movie as a way to support them after all their hurricane losses. (Not to mention I was a Flipper fan as a child and who doesn't like a dolphin as a co-star?)
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
ranny l
Dolphin Island is an interesting movie because of the dynamic between the two characters, Jonah (Peter Woodward) and Annabelle (Tyer Jade Nixon). I enjoy the relationship between the characters and the humanity added to the dolphin is a unique touch. It is interesting to watch Jonah and Annabelle interact with the dolphin. I really love seeing the dolphin perform human tasks and seemingly communicating with Annabelle. This shows how the director, Mike Disa, humanizes the dolphin. Dolphin Island makes me believe the characters enjoy spending time with each other and they truly love one another. The only problem I have with the movie is the title. Calling it Dolphin Island makes me think there's a bunch of dolphins in the movie and they are the focus of the movie. However, the movie is good enough for me to quickly get over that disappointment.
The story is about a 14-year-old girl, Annabelle, whose parents die and who lives in the Bahamas with Jonah, her grandfather. Her best friend is a dolphin named Mitzy. Life is good until Annabelle's maternal grandparents (David Raizor and Annette Lovrien Duncan) show up with a lawyer and demand that Annabelle come to New York to live with them.
At times Dolphin Island can be sad and emotional, especially when it comes to Annabelle and her great loss. The actors portray the emotion you would expect from a family that loses a loved one. Annabelle's character says and does some things that I see myself doing in the same situation, such as treating Mitzy like a person. When Mitzy sprays Jonah, Annabelle says it is because Mitzy is a good judge of humor. Also, Peter Woodward (as Jonah) really seems to have a good relationship with Annabelle. For example, when Jonah says he wants to show Annabelle what it is like to be happy, I really believe his character wants this. Dolphin Island shows us the relationship between some of the people on the island with Annabelle, Mitzy and Jonah. Seeing those relationships makes us see why Annabelle is so happy on the island and how this helps her cope with her parents' death. The story offers a brilliant take on what makes a family a true family - sometimes family is by blood, sometimes by friendships, and sometimes with animals. Dolphin Island presents some unpredictable plot twists you don't expect along with strong character development.
The message of this movie is that family will always be there for you and that love conquers all, even when things are at their worst. Along with that strong message, just like the title suggests, Dolphin Island teaches viewers a little about dolphins and how lovable and smart they really are.
I give Dolphin Island 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18. Grownups will enjoy it as well. Reviewed by Ayden P., KIDS FIRST!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
phil d
A powerful story of love and family that highlights the power of faith and hope that will warm your heart after a cold winter! The cinematography is amazing and the scenery in the Caribbean makes me long for the beach! My daughter and I loved watching this on our most recent Movie Night. I even found a Discussion Guide on the website and we were able to have some really meaningful discussions later that night. As a single dad, this is the kind of bonding that's priceless!!
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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