FREE WILLY 3:THE RESCUE

SYNOPSIS:
Jesse (Jason James Richter) is now 17 years old and has landed a summer job tracking whales on an oceanic research vessel with his old mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). Together they are trying to find the cause of a mysterious decline in the local Orca population in the remote waters off the rugged Northwest Pacific coast. On the verge of manhood, Jesse struggles to be taken seriously by the head research scientist Drew (Annie Corley) and the other adults on the scientific team. Meanwhile, Willy has also matured into a young adult and has taken the additional responsibility of a mate. Jesse befriends 10 year old Max (Vincent Berry), whose father John (Patrick Kilpatrick) runs a business of illegal whaling. Together they embark on a dangerous mission to save Willy and his pod.

"For a smart animal, Willy, the resilient prince of whales, gets into an inordinate amount of trouble. In his latest adventure its him and human buddy Jesse (Jason James Richter) against illegal whalers plying the seas of the Pacific Northwest. A decided entertainment improvement over the preceding outing, Free Willy3: The Rescue nonetheless faces hostile commercial waters… The land folk are impeccably cast, with Richter evolving from a personality performer into an actor with quiet authority and depth. Schellenberg once again gives native American Randolph a dignity and strength. The filmmakers also deserve credit for the choice of Berry, a winning but thankfully not obviously huggable child, and Kilpatrick who imbues the story’s heavy with valuable traits that enrich the dramatic texture…Whether Willy can fuel any more screen vehicles remains in serious doubt. But if he’s to be put out to pasture, he couldn’t have asked for a better bon voyage."
Leonard Klady, Variety