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After a summer filled with adventure, we made a lifetime of memories together last week during our visit to the lush, serene island of Maui. We spent plenty of time swimming and exploring the sea life around the island, and two of my childrens’ favorite activities included a visit to the Maui Ocean Center and a deep sea adventure in a submarine. My kids are fascinated with marine biology, and nearly every time we saw a dolphin, they questioned whether or not he/she was Winter or Hope from Warner Bros. latest film Dolphin Tale 2.
Dolphin Tale 2, which debuts in theaters September 12th, 2014, continues the story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin rescued off the coast of Florida after becoming entangled in the ropes of a crab trap. The original film tells the remarkable story of Winter and Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s involvement in fitting her with a life-saving prosthetic tale. The rope that Winter was entangled within cut off blood supply to her tail, which was lost. While she did relearn to swim, this unnatural side-to-side motion was found to be damaging to her spine and if continued, would result in Winter’s death. It took several months for Winter to be fitted with and then adapt to the prosthetic tale, but her incredible story has become an inspiration for adults and children who also suffer from physical disabilities.
In the sequel, Winter’s poolmate and surrogate mother Panama has died, leaving Winter alone and grieving. Because of their highly social nature, Winter must be paired with another dolphin according to USDA regulations, and time is running out. Add in Clearwater’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and then release injured marine animals,and the hopes of finding a permanent female companion for Winter appear bleak, resulting in her transfer to another aquarium. All hope seems lost, until Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) receives a call that a baby dolphin has been rescued and taken to Clearwater for rehabilitation. Inspired by their optimism that this baby will become the companion Winter so desperately needs, she is named Hope.
Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, and Morgan Freeman reprise their roles in the film and I personally loved the addition of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her left arm in a shark attack. The film is a beautiful testament to those who have dedicated their lives to rehabilitating marine life like Winter and Hope and a peek into the mysterious yet captivating marine life that thrive beneath our ocean’s waters. Weaved into the story line are messages of compassion, perseverance, and hope. The word on the street is that a 3rd installment is currently in talks, and given the sparse number of true stories-turned-film with sequels, I imagine this is a story families will be talking about for many years to come.
Dolphin Tale 2 is in theaters today.
Images: Warner Bros. & Alcon Entertainment
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