Dolphin Reef

[StevePulaski]

Dolphin Reef (2020)
Directed by: Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey

Rating: ★★★½

Following a vague and misleading path to release — for a Disney-branded property no less — Dolphin Reef arrives on Disney+ arguably at the best possible time seeing as most of America is forced to shelter-in-place amidst a global pandemic. Originally slated for a release on Earth Day 2018, with narration by Owen Wilson, the film, then titled Dolphins, mysteriously disappeared from the release-schedule with no formal announcement. It was released in France under the name Blue, and was later relegated to be a launch-title for Disney+, which too never materialized.

Dolphin Reef is instead released as part of a Disneynature twofer alongside Elephant, and seeing as there are presently no sporting events and no theatrical engagements for the foreseeable future, it's ideal evening viewing these days. But don't mistake it for a consolation prize. The 14th entry in Disney's long-running nature documentary series, it's among the elite tier, and although it prominently features bottlenose dolphins, a rousing cast of supporting creatures and a living, breathing rainbow of a reef do their part to make this a memorable ensemble showcase of the ocean floor.

We plunge deep down the Pacific where we meet Echo, a three-year-old bottlenose dolphin who is playful but a little inept when it comes to using his echolocation to find food on the ocean floor. His mother, Kuma, evidently struggles to acclimate him with his peers, and his perpetual failure to fend for himself leaves him susceptible to being part of an Orca whale's daytime snack. Per usual, narration leans in to justify many of the animals' behaviors. Thankfully, some of the inherent corniness is kept to a minimum as Portman is only sparingly forced to voice the creatures' internal monologues and mention crude asides like "sand poop."

It's reasonable to believe the documentary's title change was a result of there being so much footage chronicling life below the surface. The primary setting is a luscious Polynesian coral reef where schools of unique fish reside. Time for roll call: humphead parrotfish are the aforementioned culprits that defecate sand onto the ocean floor as a result of their coral diet, cuttlefish lazily swim and navigate the deep recesses, and predatory creatures such as lionfishes and humpback whales, serve as antagonists in the crafted narrative.

One of many compelling moments comes when we see a litany of fish gathered in what could be a mile-long line as they await other smaller fish to disinfect their body cavities from parasites. Seasoned wildlife photographers and Disneynature veterans Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey masterfully let their cameras swim innocently in the water. In turn, they capture dancing dolphins, busy hermit crabs, and other occupants of the intricate reef.

The ocean photography is simply wondrous. It's a cornucopia of color and beauty, and it sparkles on a television in crystal-clear 4K resolution. As majestic as it might've looked on the big screen, there's an inherent beauty in inviting such a vast arena into the privacy of your own home. Furthermore, seeing as Disneynature's last effort, Penguins, didn't pay dividends in its brief theatrical run coupled with the bustling business of Disney's streaming service (along with its NatGeo slant), I'd assume this will be the preferred platform for this division going forward.

If it continues to produce immaculately shot features like this, let it thrive.

My review of Disneynature's Elephant: stevethemovieman.proboards.com/thread/6407/elephant-2020

Narrated by: Natalie Portman. Directed by: Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey.