Parents' Guide to

Dolphin Reef

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Entertaining, educational nature docu has some peril.

Movie G 2020 75 minutes
Dolphin Reef Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 3+

Based on 3 parent reviews

hotcigar
hotcigar Adult
November 26, 2020
age 3+

Witty

I was floored by the narration in this documentary. It was original and kept kids engaged with very little lecturing on specific details about the species. Highly recommended for kids 3-10.

This title has:

Great messages
Ryan H.
Ryan H. Adult
May 17, 2020
age 5+

An excellent documentary for young children.

As long as your child knows that animals eat other animals, this is a perfect documentary for 5 year olds; otherwise, I agree with the recommended age of 6+. It begins with footage of dolphins surfing as well as playing with a shell like children play with toys. It’s very informative and easy to understand how the lives of dolphins are similar to those of humans. My son loved every minute.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Echo is a 3-year-old bottlenose dolphin still learning survival skills from his mother, Kumu, in DOLPHIN REEF. She has much to teach him, despite his short attention span: Echo would rather play with the other sea creatures and balance a shell on his rostrum than follow his mother's lessons. But soon he'll learn how important those skills for survival are, especially one stormy night when he's separated from his pod. Echo's world, the Polynesian coral reef, is a deeply interconnected ecosystem where every creature plays a role in its functioning. As Echo grows up, he'll learn his own role and that of others.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (6):

Outside of two key scenes of suspense, this is a remarkably soothing film. Chalk that up to the gentle narration of actress Natalie Portman, or to the sweet mother-calf pairs at the story's heart. Or maybe it's the calming blues of the ocean world complemented by the vivid colors of the coral reef and its inhabitants.

The main gist of the narration is the delicate balance of this underwater world, and captivating footage takes us right up close to witness creatures deep inside the sea and flying high above it for a bird's-eye view of the water's surface. If you've ever wondered how a film like Dolphin Reef gets made, stay for a short series of behind-the-scenes pictures and videos that accompany the closing credits.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how dolphins are similar to humans, as we're told they are in Dolphin Reef.

  • Which underwater creature seemed the most menacing to you, and why?

  • Have you ever had an opportunity to see beneath the ocean with your own eyes? How and what did you see?

  • How did the filmmakers capture the images of so many creatures under and above the water?

Movie Details

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