It is in a time where animals weren't appreciated that much. So that phrase "he/she is treating them like an animal" applies. It comes from stories like this. Drew Barrymore plays a lady from greenpeace who cares about these whales that are trapped in some ice. She tries to get people in on this plan to get them out. But she tries unsuccessfully untill she comes across a news crew. This was set in the eighties and they didn't have anti-animal abuse stuff. A kid who loves animals will like this film. There is some bad language and one kissing scene.