Dolphin Tale 3D ***

Very good for its type, this heart-tugging Disney rendition of the rehabilitation of a tail-less dolphin hits all the familiar notes without screeching or putting you to sleep. Based on a true story (that of the dolphin, who plays herself), the movie centers on a withdrawn boy who comes out of his shell when he gets involved with saving Winter, the dolphin. The boy, Sawyer (Nathan Gamble), who lives with his single mom (Ashley Judd) gets to know the dedicated head of the marine hospital (Harry Connick Jr) and his perky daughter (Cozi Zuehlsdorff), and assist the prosthetics specialist (Morgan Freeman) who works at the nearby VA hospital where the Sawyer's cousin, his hero, is recuperating from a war injury. See what I mean by familiar notes?

But don't worry, the movie is well-written, everybody does a fine job, and the story doesn't cloy. And there are some obvious tropes they passed on, for which I was grateful. I saw it in 3D, but I can't say it added much to the experience. Maybe it's subliminally more involving to see a movie in 3D, but I'd say see it in 2D, and save the $3. And don't forget the hankies!