**After two films with a lot of good things, this film shows signs of fatigue and wear.**

If I can say that I really enjoyed the first film in this trilogy, I can't say the same for any of the sequels. The first film, even with all the flaws, was quite good and was so enjoyable that it became a milestone for many people's childhood and adolescence. The second film managed to retain many of the first's qualities, but lacked a credible and intelligent script. This film, in turn, is not able to learn from the mistakes of its predecessor and ends up sounding like more of the same, in a tired and worn recipe.

The action of the film takes place several years after the second and first. If for Jesse time passed, for Willy time would pass even faster, since these animals usually have an average lifespan of twenty to twenty-five years in human age. So, if Willy would still be young in the first film, in this film he would be a much more mature animal, and the probability of being able to answer his old partner's call of circus skills would be, to say the least, a house-sized absurdity.

Even so, the script brings the two together again, and this time to face an illegal whaling ship willing to hunt as many orcas as it can, to make good money with them. Keeping what we've been used to since the beginning, the film seeks to raise public awareness of important issues for the preservation of marine life, and this time nothing seems better than showing the cruelty of illegal hunting of whales and other cetaceans. However, the weakness of the film itself somewhat undermines such noble intentions, and I have no doubt that the Chinese would abhor the idea, given that China is one of the rare countries that still sanctions the hunting of these animals.

It is quite evident that the film has lost all the freshness and shine of the first two, and that we also do not have a quality direction that knows how to squeeze the few qualities that still remain in the franchise. And although the villains are quite impressive, the film is predictable, all the material is tired and does not hold our attention. The film is saved, “in extremis”, by the fast pace and by the fact that it doesn't take long to finish.

Back to the usual characters, Jason James Ritcher and August Schellenberg return to be present, but if Ritcher still manages reasonably with the task, Schellenberg seems a shadow of what he was in the previous films, even if it is a return that is more than positive and well-received. coming. With the rest of the previous cast declining the chance of returning, we are left with the positive and interesting addition of Patrick Kalpatrick, who offers us a very satisfactory job. Vincent Berry also deserves a good grade, but there's not much for him to do, really.

Technically, the film continues to bet on good cinematography and the choice of beautiful filming locations. As with its predecessor, it's a film that doesn't look its age: if you watch it without knowing when it was made, you don't give it more than ten years. Good sound effects, good special effects and a realistic animatronic whale are some of the values that the film presents to us. The soundtrack is pleasant, but it's a recycling of previous material.

The Five Faces of **_FREE WILLY 3: THE RESCUE_**

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:heart_eyes:

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:smiley:

With a new composer, the series goes back to a more vivid and carefree soundtrack familiar from the first film. This is perfectly suited to the film itself.

The series has matured by this point and main star **Jason James Richter** with it. He has grown into a charming young man and the forced teenage dramatics from the last movie have been put aside. He hasn't improved as an actor, but at least there is no one here to ruin what he is doing on-screen.

It's nice to finally meet some properly unsympathetic and fleshed out villains in this franchise. **Patrick Kilpatrick** puts a face to the man who proves to be a worthy match for Jesse and Willy. He and his team of whalers are what the franchise needs to feel relevant again.

Max brings hope for the future of the franchise, but too little too late. He is adorably natural and somewhat of a Jesse Jr. and had the franchise not been dead already by this point he could have inherited Richter's position.

The whalers create proper danger and tension with some harrowing scenes hunting down Willy and the company. That helps put a sinister, less joyful atmosphere over the film.

This feels like the sequel _Willy 2_ should have been. It's less of a summer film with the character spending half the film whaling around and more of a mature film putting the humans and their struggles in focus. It's become a heist operation film, which I personally think is nice.

_Willy 3_ reinvigorates the touching relationship between Jesse and Willy (even though Willy remains a robot and nothing beats the original). The rapport between Jesse and Max is admirable and definitely better than in the earlier movies.

_Willy 3_ contains a level of tension and thrill that is unprecedented for the series. It's just the right amount of grim and lighthearted, with a believable plot, good villains and smart use of the orcas. The film reaches a whole new emotional level.

In terms of the story, the mature direction, the emotional level, and the villains, I really find this the best entry in the entire series.

:neutral_face:

**August Schellenberg** returns again as Randolph. This time he feels less important to the story and there is very little new Schellenberg has brought to the part.

Despite a largely even pacing, the middle part feels a bit dragged out as the movie enters a standstill while building up for the finale.

:frowning2:

**Annie Corley** continues the trend of diminishing supporting actresses in the franchise. She is bland and boring and barely plays a part in the story.

:face_vomiting:

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**The Final Face:** :smiley: