Blue Miracle

Blue Miracle
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Blue Miracle is an uplifting film based on a true story that has a generally light tone and a happy ending but also some potentially scary scenes and themes. The main character Omar (Jimmy Gonzales) runs an orphanage for parent-less boys, and he continuously models integrity, hard work, resilience, and honesty for them despite his own challenges, including bank debt that could shut the orphanage down. Though the boys are mostly cheerful, they do talk about some traumatic past experiences. They share the scars on their bodies from abuse, like getting cut by metal coat hangers, and they talk about losing parents to bullets, drugs, and prison. One boy's brother was said to have been shot, and we see young men shooting at each other in the background of a street scene. The main character's father drowned when he was little, and he continues to have nightmares involving water and drowning. He also flashes back to his own childhood living on the street. Two boys get in a fight on a boat and fall overboard; one can't swim so an adult has to dive in to save him. Adult men drink beer, tequila, and whiskey, sometimes to excess, and a past involving drug running is discussed. Language is mostly childish taunts like "punk" and "loser," but also includes "hell" and some spoken insults in Spanish that aren't translated in the English subtitles. The film has Christian iconography and messages of faith.
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One of my FAVORITES!!!
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What's the Story?
In BLUE MIRACLE, set in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Omar (Jimmy Gonzales) and his wife Becca (Fernanda Urrejola) run an orphanage for boys called Casa Hogar. Omar is avoiding phone calls from the bank because it turns out he's over $100,000 in debt and the orphanage is about to be shut down. When he goes to a local friend for help, the friend (Bruce McGill) enlists Casa Hogar in a high-stakes fishing competition with a washed-up local fisherman, Captain Wade Malloy (Dennis Quaid). If Wade, Omar, and their team of ragtag orphans can pull in the largest blue marlin over the course of the three-day competition, they just might be able to save their home -- and themselves in the process.
Is It Any Good?
Great intentions and solid acting keep this uplifting but predictable film from getting lost at sea. Blue Miracle is one of those stories that remains watchable even if you know from the start exactly how it's going to end. That's thanks to a compelling true story about an orphanage about to go under and a confident central performance by Jimmy Gonzales, whose own life story apparently inspired him in the role. It's also thanks to a cast of engaging kids and a credibly gruff and wind-worn Dennis Quaid. And it's thanks to an upbeat hip-hop soundtrack and an absolutely gorgeous setting, beautifully filmed in blue tones on land, sea, and in sweeping aerial shots.
The film also works even despite noticeable shortcomings. It's questionable to have native Spanish-speaking actors talking English to each other in a Mexican setting. The improbable choice, unexplained and not made more authentic by Spanish words and expressions thrown in, could turn off some audiences. Many of the film's dialogues also feel overly scripted, like when the boys are questioning Wade about his own son, or when an old friend is trying to tempt Omar back into high-paying crime. Omar has recurring nightmares involving water that stem from his own experience as a child but also seem to perhaps too obviously symbolize his feeling adrift, sinking low, drowning in debt, watching hopes swirl down the drain. Still, the film is chock full of positive messages that are relatable for the whole family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the moral quandaries Omar faces in trying to get out of debt and save his orphanage in Blue Miracle. If the ending had been different, and he hadn't been able to save the orphanage, would you still think he'd made the right choices? Why or why not?
What significance do you give to the film's title? What different things could "blue" refer to?
Papa Omar models integrity, honesty, hard work, and resilience for the boys. How so? Why are these important character strengths, even if you aren't facing adversity like these characters?
What do you think of the way Spanish and English are used in this film? Does it make sense that the characters speak mostly English together? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 27, 2021
- Cast: Jimmy Gonzales, Dennis Quaid, Bruce McGill
- Director: Julio Quintana
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Ocean Creatures
- Character Strengths: Integrity, Perseverance
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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