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Title: Free Willy (1993)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jason James Richter | ... | Jesse | |
| Lori Petty | ... | Rae Lindley | |
| Jayne Atkinson | ... | Annie Greenwood | |
| August Schellenberg | ... | Randolph Johnson | |
| Michael Madsen | ... | Glen Greenwood | |
| Michael Ironside | ... | Dial | |
| Richard Riehle | ... | Wade | |
| Mykelti Williamson | ... | Dwight Mercer | |
| Michael Bacall | ... | Perry | |
| Danielle Harris | ... | Gwenie | |
 |
Isaiah Malone | ... | Vector |
|
|
Betsy Toll | ... | Passerby #1 |
|
|
Rob Sample | ... | Passerby #2 |
|
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Merrilyn Jones | ... | Passerby #3 |
|
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Mickey Gaines | ... | Waiter |
Fishermen separate a young orca whale (Willy) from his parents and he ends up in a fish bowl at a marina. Meanwhile, a street kid runs afoul of the law and gets caught vandalising the marina, but his social worker gets him off the hook (so to speak) provided he cleans up his mess at the marina. While there, he befriends the whale and teaches him tricks, something the trainer hasn't been able to do. But when Willy is a dud in front of the audience, the marina owner plans some bad things, and the boy and his friends must try to (*** MAJOR SPOILERS ***) free Willy. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Oh, this one is underrated here. The story of Jason James Richter's character trying to escape from a life of crime and missing prospects is way beyond the average. The growing affection for Willy is not even stereotyped or clichéd. It's a genuine bond that focuses on two outcast characters who slowly but surely come to experience true friendship and the value of trust. Jason's performance really appealed to me when I saw this movie as a kid. It is a sincere depiction of friendship, of a way out, of fighting for your values against all odds and of never giving up. Right, I'm grown up now, but this is one of the movies of my childhood I'd like to watch again, and I'm sure I'd enjoy it almost as much as back then. Jason James had very few acting appearances, but the Free Willy series assured him his place in movie history. His entire performance in here is sincere and straight, he doesn't laugh nor smile if it wasn't just natural in the specific sequences. His facial expressions and body language fit into the total frame as well. The story has some profoundly human themes to it. I can't help it, I think this one is both entertaining and deep, dealing with emotions and prospects of life, with integrity and courage in the face of danger.