Free Willy 3: The Rescue MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: +3

Jesse (Jason James Richter) is a 17-year-old boy working on an ocean research vessel. He and his team are trying to find the cause of a mysterious decline of the local Orca whale population in the remote waters off the rugged Northwest Pacific coast. Happily, they find Willy with his new family in the region. Not too far away, a 10-year-old boy named Max (Vincent Berry) is terribly excited about going on his first trip with his father on his commercial fishing boat. Like so many boys, Max idolizes his father and wants to follow in his footsteps as a fishing-boat captain. But Max's joy turns to gloom when he realizes the nature of his father's business -- illegal whaling. When Jesse meets Max, he struggles to convince Max to help him stop his father and save Willy. And Max must decide between his father and his conscience. Adults and children alike will enjoy this family adventure. The beautiful cinematography and the fast-moving plot will make it a winner with young adventurers.

FREE WILLY 3 supports many traditional family values. Max loves and respects his father, and his father in turn loves him and treats him with gentleness despite the nature of his vicious job. Max's mother counsels him to do the right thing even when it hurts. Jesse loves wildlife, whales in particular, and his passion will translate to many youngsters watching the film. A few crude words slip into the dialogue, and a scene in which a whale is harpooned may be to traumatic for very young viewers. In several scenes, characters drink alcohol, and a drunken fight breaks out in a bar. Max disobeys his parents by sneaking onto his father's boat, and Jesse shows disrespect for the captain of his boat at one point. But negative behavior never seems to be condoned, and otherwise, FREE WILLY 3: THE RESCUE is a whale of a family film.

Preview Reviewer: Jason Shepherd
Distributor: Warner Brothers, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522