This entertaining children's picture about a boy and his whale knows exactly what strings to pull and when. Australian director Simon Wincer combines animatronic models with shots of Keiko, the real-life killer whale that plays Willy, with great skill. The action away from the aqua park where Willy is the star attraction is suffocated by political correctness, family-bonding scenes and hammed-up villainy, but it's pretty hard to resist once Keiko and Jason James Richter are on screen together, providing you're between four and ten at heart.

When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.