Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max - until the end of 8/31)

Initial release date: July 19, 1995

Studios: Warner Bros./ Regency Enterprises

Tagline: The adventure is back. The fun is back. Willy’s back. And this time he’s brought his whole family to meet an old friend … and take on a new challenge.

Plot: In this sequel to the popular first installment, Jesse is now a teenager living with his adoptive parents when his half-brother, Elvis, shows up on the heels of their birth mother’s death. When Jesse learns that an oil spill is threatening his old friend Willy the orca, he enlists his crush, Nadine, and Elvis in an attempt to save the friendly whales from the spill and greedy businessman.

Cast

Jason James Richter - Jesse

Francis Capra - Elvis

Mary Kate Schellhardt - Nadine

August Schellenberg - Randolph

Micheel Madsen - Glenn

Jayne Atkinson - Annie

Mykelti Williamson - Dwight

Elizabeth Pena - Kate Haley

Jon Tenney - John Milner

M. Emmet Walsh - Bill Wilcox

John Considine - Commander Blake

Steve Kahan - Captain Nilson

Writer(s): Karen Janszen (Dolphin Tale)

Corey Blechman (Free Willy)

John Mattson (Milk Money; Free Willy 3: The Rescue)

Director: Dwight H. Little (Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid; Murder at 1600)

Rated PG for mild language and mild peril (95 minutes)

The 1993 movie ‘Free Willy’ was great family entertainment for the whole family. One thing that some people don’t realize is that the movie actually spawned two sequels. Well, three if you would count the DVD sequel ‘Escape from Pirate’s Cove’ that has nothing to do with either the main characters of the previous movies or Willy (just a sequel by name). For the Exclusive Series, I took another look at the first sequel, ‘Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home.’

The 1995 sequel still has a lot of exciting, entertaining moments like the previous movie. Unlike the first movie (which deals with the lead character Jesse freeing Willy into the wild) this time they have to free Willy and his family from a terrible oil spill.

‘The Adventure Home’ can be a little emotional and dramatic, especially when you see the orcas dealing with the oil spill. It can be on the sorta predictable side, but it’s still great family fun. And, just like the first movie, ‘Free Willy 2’ features some incredible orca footage.

You can still find ‘Free Willy 2,’ along with the other ‘Free Willy’ movies on HBO Max until the end of August 31 when the movies leave the streaming service. You can still rent it via YouTube, Google Play and other rental services.

***FYI - ‘Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home’ is 26 years old!!!! Feel old yet?!

Here are a couple interesting tidbits about ‘Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home’:

• The VHS release included an infomercial before the movie that talks about receiving donations needed to relocate the star orca, Keiko, back to the ocean.

• Unlike the first movie, a robotic killer whale is playing Willy instead of Keiko.

• The first sequel collected $30 million on a $31 million budget. Received mixed reviews from critics, though many were impressed with the film’s subtle approach to pollution and other environmental issues, while focusing on family values.

https://youtu.be/SFnK1abzS9E