# Andre (1994)

### reviewed by
Pedro Sena

    FILM TITLE:                  ANDRE
    DIRECTOR:                  GEORGE MILLER
    COUNTRY:                   USA 1994
    CINEMATOGRAPHY:    THOMAS BURSTYN
    MUSIC:                        BRUCE ROWLAND
    CAST:                          Chelsea Field, Keith Carradine, Tina
    Majorino, Keith Szaarbajka, Aidan Pendleton, Joshua Jackson
    WRITTEN BY:               Based on a true story.
    SUPER FEATURES:     The seal.

             !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One thing is for sure when you undertake to see a George Miller film. It will be well written and carefully paged all the way to the end, not leaving many unanswered questions. And it will leave you thinking about the film. Be it Mad Max, the Road Warrior, or things like The Witches of Eastwick, or more recently, Lorenzo's Oil. The scripts may not be the tidiest, or the best, but somehow, this director makes it all look alright, and still come off with a story.

ANDRE is a story for children, but it is also a nice story for adults. It is the story of a seal that got spoiled by a family, that took care of it when it was young. And despite the fact that the man taking care of the seal happens to be the local harbor master, and he is violating rules by keeping an animal captive, he manages to do his job and make a friend here and there. And, during what seems like a bad fishing season, the seal, is being blamed for the poor fishing that all the hard working fishermen are having, or at least for the fact that the harbormaster is more worried about the seal, than he is about the welfare of the fishermen.

In time, the seal ends up going to Boston, some 200 miles from where they are, and becomes a star in an aquarium. But more importantly, Andre becomes a star attraction in the small community, and seems to attract many tourists. And despite a few hang-ups, the devil may care attitude that the seal has, manages to get it and some people in a bit of trouble, but mostly in good humor.

While there is nothing fancy in this film, there is some real nifty shooting in the water watching seals, and Andre do his thing, this film is nice enough to grab your attention. It isn't great, but it is nice. And the kids will love it. Andre is an attention getter, and quite a critic, and tv watcher. And much smarter than we give him, and other seals, credit for.

Worth seeing, make sure the kids see it.

    3 of 5 GIBLOONS
    Copyright (c) Pedro Sena 1995. All Rights Reserved.

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