Parents' Guide to

Namu: My Best Friend

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

1960s whale adventure has some peril but teaches tolerance.

Movie PG 2005 89 minutes
Namu: My Best Friend Poster Image

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Is It Any Good?

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Kids who are interested in marine life will likely enjoy this exploration of communicating with the killer whale, and parents can get behind the positive pro-science, pro-nature message.

With its sense of formality and idealism, casual smoking and almost Twilight Zone-era feel of the narration, this late-'60s film on the intelligence and wonder of the killer whale feels of its time. It also portrays the issue of animal rights vs. people's as a fairly simplistic one. But that said, it's beautifully shot, wholesome entertainment that demonstrates some important messages about tolerance and basing one's decisions on concrete facts rather than irrational, particularly ignorant, fears.

Movie Details

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