Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Sandy Ricks is sent by his mom to Coral Key, a rustic island in the Florida keys, to spend the summer with his uncle Porter Ricks. Sandy dislikes everything about his new environment until a new friend comes into his life, a dolphin named Flipper, that brings uncle and nephew together and leads Sandy on the summer adventure of a lifetime.
The 1996 Flipper remake is a formulaic family adventure that treads very familiar ground from the original TV series and 1963 film. The plot hits predictable beats — reluctant kid, charming animal companion, environmental villain — without adding meaningful depth or surprise. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with Paul Hogan doing a laid-back Uncle Porter and Elijah Wood coasting through a generic teen arc. The Florida Keys setting and underwater cinematography provide some visual appeal, lifting that category slightly. Novelty is low given this is a straightforward remake of well-worn material with little distinctive voice or fresh conception. The ending resolves exactly as expected, offering no emotional ambiguity or memorable payoff.