Customer Reviews

Flipper

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I originally bought this movie for my 9-year-old daughter who is a huge fan of both dolphins and Elijah Wood. I didn't expect, however, that the entire family would enjoy it as much as we did! The story was interesting, suspensful and heart-warming. The acting was good -- not cheesy at all (as was another reviewer's opinion). The only complaint I had was the occasional (and unecessary) profanity ... which from what I could tell would be the only reason for it's PG rating. Otherwise this a great movie for the entire family and I would highly recommend it.

Highly entertaining if you are under eleven years of age and a lover of dolphins, eminently tolerable if you are not- Flipper is one of the more enjoyable family films of recent years. Based on the highly successful 60s TV series it is the story of a teenager who befriends a dolphin while spending the summer with his uncle on the Florida Keys. The script is patchy constantly flitting between some potentially cringe worthy dialogue and moments of quirky comedic brilliance. For a film purporting to be centred on a dolphin as the title suggests we see precious little of the creature. The underwater shots of wildlife are uninspiring and some viewers will probably find their finger hovering over the fast forward button of their remote more than once as the film unfolds. Paul Hogan and Elijah Wood are the strongest elements of an otherwise pedestrian cast and of the two it is Wood who ultimately manages to carry the movie. His Sandy is engaging and utterly charming and you have to love his lingo which boasts such gems as `gotta jet man-here comes the hippy' and the `we've been smoking up a storm...' dialogue-both delivered in a manner that renders them absolutely priceless! For such a young actor (15) he manages Sandy's transition from a sulky, rebellious brat to a much more caring individual with incredible ease. And that is the thing most admirable about Wood in this film- the fact he delivers the script's more stilted and sentimental lines and sequences with a naturalism that makes his job look so damn easy! Hogan as the salty Uncle Porter is less impressive on the whole but nonetheless conjures several memorable moments. Hogan's screen presence is as great as ever and he seems quite at home in this role producing a relaxed and smooth performance. His characteristic deadpan delivery is used to great effect in this film and his on screen rapport with Wood produces some of the best scenes in `Flipper'. On the down side the rest of the cast offer relatively stilted performances, which inevitably damage the pace of the film. It is also let down by the absence of a decent storyline, opting instead for the traditional clichés that have plagued these sort of films.
In short if you want a positive and amusing family film to watch with your child `Flipper' is as good a choice as any. And if you do happen to find your attention waning towards the end you can always occupy yourself with trying to make out what the pieces of text on Sandy's t-shirts say!

I know that "Flipper" is only averaging 3 stars because a lot of poople don't like it much because it's not anything like the Tv show. I grew up watching Flipper the Tv show and it was always one of my favorites, but I still have to say that this movie is a good movie even if it's not all that much inspired by the Tv show. The main theme between the Tv show and the movie are basically the same, both are mainly about the story of a boy befriended by a dolphin named Flipper. However, there are a few differences. In this movie, there's not a Bud character, there's only Sandy, unlike the show. Also, Flipper won't be saving anything or anybody in this movie.

In "Flipper" the movie, Sandy (Elijah Wood) has to stay a summer with his uncle, Porter (Paul Hogan), although he doesn't want to and he doesn't even know his uncle. Sandy doesn't exactly get along with his uncle that lives mainly off of Spaghetti O's at first. If it wasn't for Sandy befriending Flipper, there's no telling what would've happened. Flipper befriends Sandy, which leads to Sandy making more friends including Kim (Jessica Wesson), Sandy getting along better with his uncle, and even some adventures and misadventures along the way.

Even though "Flipper" isn't much like the old Tv classic, I still thought that this was a great movie. It has its drama throughout and it even has a few adventurous parts such as an encounter with a hammerhead shark and busting some criminals. It also has good underwater photography and pretty good acting. I recommend anybody who used to watch Flipper the Tv show or anyone who likes dolphins or just likes good movies to get "Flipper."

I was alive when I saw the original movie released that lead to the TV series starring Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden. I bought this film simply because I have loved Paul Hogan's work and adore Elijah Wood. So I took a chance.

In merit to this film and its premise, this film's take off of "Flipper" shows a more disfunctional family approach to the Ricks family we see in the old 1960's TV series. Elijah Wood, who plays Sandy in this film, is sent to stay with Ranger Ricks for one summer. You presume Sandy's mother can not take care of him for the summer, while she pays Porter Ricks, played by Paul Hogan; $100 a week to take care of the boy. I don't know who can get by on $100 a week these days let alone in 2003 when this film was made. Porter Ricks living conditions are quite a far cry from the clean environment and ethics taught in the old 1965 tv series. Since this film is drawing from the original characters created from the 1965 series, it makes sense to make a rough comparison. This film in other words can not just be judged for its own merits alone, since it draws from the old 60's Tv series in premise.

There is no sign of Bud in this film or hint to a sequel that might introduce him and frankly, it was the relationship between Flipper and Bud that made the old 1960's tv series work so well. Tommy Norden was not only a cute kid to watch, but had a fabulous personality as a young actor.

The character development in this film needed allot of work, not to mention somekind of decent story line. In the opening, Sandy and Porter Ricks seem distant from each other and don't really seem that much closer by the time it all reaches the end of the film.

Flipper appears into this half hazardly via Sandy witnessing some fishermen killing Flipper's mother and, for some reason, Flipper is drawn to Sandy after roaming the oceans with no pod or family. How he finds Sandy isn't clear either when there is no earthly way a dolphin, as intelligent as Flipper, could have known where Sandy lived.

I liked that Flipper tracked Sandy down in his lonliness, but it would have made more sense if Sandy had tried to rescue Flipper from the gunman, who shot Flipper's mother, which caused this bonding to take place, while leaving a clue for the dolphin to find Sandy. You really have no idea why flipper is drawn to Sandy, other than the fact that Flipper gets lonily, in need of a family, and magically tracks him down.

The dolphin in this movie is cute; that goes without saying. Makes me think of the mechanical dolphin, named Darwin, they used in SeaQuest.

I think this film would have had allot more going for it, if they had simply worked to create somekind of story that brings Ricks, Sandy and Flipper together via stuggle and need for each other. It seems the story was trying to do that along the way, but kept missing.

Frankly, this story really does not go anywhere and that's ashame. You can read other reviews to get some idea of what the story is about. Otherwise I think the chemistry between Paul Hogan, as an actor, and Elijah Wood, as an actor, could have really worked in this film. They both are excellent actors when it comes down to it. It just seems the whole thing was slapped together with the idea in mind; "This will sell, everyone loves Flipper", but we also like a good story or it doesn't work.

Also, as long as the character "Sandy" was going to be used in this remake, it makes no sense to take away Bud from the family profile; given this film is drawing from the original work of the original film and tv series of the 1960's.

Cinematography wise; this film is done well, but I can see why it would have been hard to even make a sequel with this, simply because the story really goes no where or at least in a direction that might even suggest a sequel.

I felt very lost at the end when Sandy goes home at summer's end to be with his mom: At least you think it is his mom, even though that isn't made clear in the script. He's allowed to come back next summer to visit Porter Ricks, but the whole thing just comes apart with this type of ending when you consider the original premise of the Ricks family of the 1960's and that they were a family. You don't see that happening here, even though the writer is drawing from the old 1960's series. Too bad.

I hate to give anything a number 2 rating. Can't imagine how anyone could have blown it with something as delightful as Flipper, but this one really isn't worth your money. It's more a rental film or something to pass your time when nothing else is on tv to watch.

I really enjoyed this movie! It's very cute and quite funny in places, has decent acting and of course the dolphin is simply delightful!

Sandy (played by a tender Elijah Wood) is a rebellious teenager from Chicago who is sent to stay with his Uncle (aussie Paul Hogan) over the summer. Thinking there will be NOTHING to do accept fish on a crummy boat for 8 weeks, Sandy finds pleasure out of being difficult and objective. However things take a turn when he saves the life of a friendly and intelligent dolphin, who later on becomes known as Flipper and the two soon develop a strong friendship.

Being an Australian, it was great to see an old classic in this movie to bring a little something extra. Elijah Wood did a wonderful job i thought! Best known for his portrayal as Frodo in the "lord of the rings" Wood shows real profession at such a young age.

And i wont finish without mentioning the beautiful dolphin! Those animals are such a joy to watch because you can really sense that they are smiling! He was simply beautiful! Children are going to love the several sequences in which Flipper dives and plays in the water. Beautiful cinematography!

So in conclusion, "Flipper" is just wonderfully light and fun escape from heavier films and the other destractions of life. It'll make you wanna jump in the pool and you will laugh in several places. Good acting and gorgeous animal interaction work together to make this sweet tale of friendship a pleasure to watch over again!

My four year old daughter is in love with this film. We rented it from the library and she asked to "own" it so I ordered her one for a Christmas present. Yes a dolphin does get shot in the beginning but you don't actually see the animal get hit, (an older child would be able to put it together)but a hammerhead shark does eat a seagull and there is blood involved. But otherwise this is a fun, lighthearted movie.

I believe this one was overlooked when it came out. The only thing is Uncle Porter (Paul Hogan)has gotta get some other food besides all those cans of Spagetti-O's. If you are a Paul Hogan fan then you will enjoy this film. I am ready to visit Uncle Porter just so i can enjoy the beach and ocean. LOL Good Movie!

Not being a fan of '60s TV, I never watched the original Flipper series, but there is something that continually draws me to these stories about children with unusual friends, and when there's a dolphin involved, my interest is piqued even more. However, even after a couple viewings, I'm not sure how much I like 1996's "Flipper": on a good day, it's a sweet story and a fine vehicle for its lead performers; on a bad day, it's a lightweight Free Willy and feels strangely contained. Either way, it's a fairly typical '90s family movie and, at least, a refreshing adventure from a time when it wasn't uncool to be environmentally conscious.

The story: a disconnected teenager named Sandy (Elijah Wood, The Lord of the Rings series) finds a friend in a lost dolphin. As their bond grows, they will need to overcome great odds to save the tranquility of Flipper's ocean home and both of their lives from greedy polluters.

It's never explained why Flipper takes such a shine to Sandy in the first place, and Jonathan Banks (Wiseguy) deserves a consolation award for portraying one of the most over-the-top jerk villains I've ever seen as the fisherman who's got it in for Flipper's life, but other than that, the film's writing is fine and the movie has a nice feel-good vibe. Paul Hogan - taking a break from hunting animals in Crocodile Dundee - stands out particularly as the eccentric-but-likeable uncle, and Flipper endears himself by being the best pal Elijah Wood's character probably ever had: not only does he splash around with Sandy in the water and save his life in the end, but he also makes him a lot of money as a dockside attraction and more or less gets him a girlfriend (Jessica Wesson, Casper); if that dolphin's not true & blue, I don't know which is.

Apparently, Flipper was played by a combination of real dolphins and animatronics, but I really couldn't tell where one ended and the latter began, so the effects are pretty darn convincing. The Florida Keys setting also looks friendly and pretty authentic (the movie was filmed in the Bahamas), but as aforementioned, the film's scale feels slightly deficient: there are lapses where the sea definitely feels like an aquarium, and I got the feeling that a couple of the vistas were dangerously close to eachother on the shooting location - spitting distance, without much room for the camera to maneuver. Additionally, the story rarely conveys a feeling of legitimate peril or even a particularly strong sense of righteous indignation when it comes to its environment-raping, dolphin-snaring antagonists. In this sense, "Flipper" really does wade in the shadow of "Free Willy" as the emotional lightweight.

Flipper's quite resourceful with his tail, using it to dropkick the villain into the ocean and smack Elijah Wood on the butt, and for some reason, this tidbit amuses me enough to keep the film in my personal collection. I guess I do like it quite a bit, but again, even though I don't know how it holds up against its source material, I can't help but think that it could've stood to be a bit bigger and a bit weightier. Were the movie made in the last decade instead of 1996, the script would've probably received a slightly more mature treatment that could've only improved the end product, but as things stand, this film's probably your best bet for family cinema starring dolphins. Worth seeing.

I was never a huge `Flipper' fan. I didn't watch the television show and I never saw the 1963 film that inspired it. I do recall seeing this particular movie when I was younger, but I didn't given it a second thought. As far as deep-sea animal movies I preferred `Jaws', and, well, I did absolutely LOVE `Free Willy', but that's for another discussion.

So, anyways, my wife, she's the `Flipper' fan. She just adores this movie and so the other night she made me watch it with her, and guess what; it was actually quite good.

So, for those of you not aware, this is a move about a dolphin who befriends a boy in need of a friend. Young Sandy Ricks is depressed since his parents recently divorced. He is longing for some normalcy, but instead his mother decides to ship him off to Coral Key to spend the summer with his crazy Uncle Porter. Sandy is apposed to it at first, but then he meets Flipper, a friendly dolphin who shows Sandy the meaning of friendship.

Throughout the film Sandy not only bonds with Flipper but also with his Uncle, which is something Porter needed as well. Add to that a young girl who catches Sandy's eye and an evil fisherman who is poisoning the water and you have an adventure suited for the whole family.

Sure, `Flipper' is nothing truly special. It is nothing new or unpredictable. In fact, you can guess pretty much every upcoming scene long before it appears, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good time; and films like this that are targeted at a family and a young audience are not designed to truly amaze or surprise you. They are designed to capture the hearts of young ones and their parents, and `Flipper' truly does that.

The acting is quite good for a film of this genre, especially from young Frodo; I mean Elijah Wood. He shows possibly more depth here than I've ever seen him since. Paul Hogan does a surprisingly fine job as Porter, making his relationship with Sandy seem a lot more real than it could have.

But of course this movie is all about the dolphin, and he does steal the show.

So, if you are looking for a fun family film that is packed with adventure, humor and a chatty little sea-faring animal than this may just be the film you are looking for. It's not amazing, but it doesn't have to be. It is better than average, that's for sure, and with the slew of average films being released today it's nice to find one that is ahead of the pack.

My 4 year old son loves this movie, he watches it over and over...the hammerhead shark makes him a little nervous, but the dolphins beat up the shark, and he loves that part...