Salt Water Moose (1996) User Reviews

Decent and quite original family film

[freydis-e · 5/10 · 24 September 2009]

This isn't bad at all with a solid turn from ever-reliable Tim Dalton and a fascinating chance to see the later-iconic Katharine Isabelle (Ginger from Ginger Snaps) acting as a child – she's good here too. The scenery is wonderful, the animals cute and well-trained, and the idea is clever and original. Because it is so unusual, I'm not going to say anything about the plot – best way to watch this is if you have no idea at all what's going to happen.

There's no shortage of clichéd situations and heavy-handed emotional messages, but it's no worse than many films of this type and better than a lot. The action moves along well, the dialog is neat, and you won't be bored.

The script lets itself down badly towards the end though. A strong message throughout has been: if kids want to do something worthwhile (and what these kids want to do is amazing!) then let them try and don't shut them away from all risk. But when, in the climax, things inevitably get exciting, the kids are given hardly anything to do and that message gets ruined. Jo in particular, who has driven the whole story, is reduced by adversity to little more than a wailing spectator. There was just no need for this – the kids could easily have handled all the hero stuff and left the adults to help one another.

Beautiful story + Dalton's very good performance.

[Ffolkes-3 · 18 February 2001]

I have just finished watching the film and I must say that, though I wasn't too enthusiastic in the beginning, soon I found out that it really was worth the Children's Program Award (Director's Guild of America) it got. It's a great children show (both, Johnny Morina and Katherine Isobel play just wonderfully as for children), and thanks to smooth and enjoyable performance from Timothy Dalton (he should do more such films), it may also interest adults. The frame of the plot is very well known, but it doesn't matter as much as the beautiful story of a friendship between the nature and the humans. Good cinematography and a very engaging finale of the story. Great film for a whole family, for one of those Sunday mornings. No violence, no sex, no bad language - just a nice and interesting story.

Tender Nature

[avampyrn · 9/10 · 2 August 2003]

This is one of those films one could watch on a Saturday sometime, and in turn gain a good life's attitude through the week.

Bobby Scofield (Johnny Morina) is a 12-year-old baseball player, come with his recently divorced mother, Eva (Lolita Davidovitch), to live in Nova Scotia for the summer with his grandma. Soon after arriving, he meets local girl, Jo Parnell (Katharine Isobel), with whom he strikes up an immediate friendship.

The two children, with the help of Jo's father, Lester (Timothy Dalton), make it their mission to find a mate for Charley, prodigal mate-hungry moose stuck by himself on a little remote island outside Nova Scotia. Though they encounter various snags and some seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way, they do manage to haphazardly build a mutual friendship of substance, which by rote involves their parents and intensifies their mission.

Mistake me not, though: This is a happy-go-lucky film, with wonderful actors playing characters to love - And I certainly do - I love it all!

a truly wonderful family film!!!!

[katieholmes30 · 10/10 · 27 June 2002]

ok, for those of you reading, i just want to let you know that this is my absolute favorite family film!! i'm 15 years old, and i just loved it!! i went babysitting 3 little girls last night, that i babysit all the time. i brought over 4 movies including "babe", "the aristocats" "homeward bound" and "salt water moose". the 3 first videos were mine, but i had rent salt water moose just to see if they might want to watch it, but i doubted it.. to my surprise, the 3 kids got together and quickly said "we want to watch salt water moose!!" so i popped it in their tv-vcr.(that's all they could fit inside their summertime trailer, no room for a big tv..) at the end of the movie, i was surprised to see that i really, really loved it!! it was great!! i don't want to give any of it away because its such a fantastic movie. the kids diid not stop talking about the movie since last night!! i babysat them again today, and they wanted to watch it again! it was so cute, they started going around in the trailer making moose calls and imitating the movie. i was very pleased with the film!! in fact, i loved it so much that i went straight to the video store and asked them if i could buy the video from them and they sold it to me:) now, the kids say each time i go there, they want me to bring the film over!! it so beautiful.. its a film that the whole family can enjoy and watch over again. there's no violence, sex, swearing or nothing!! just plain family fun. i definitely give this a 10/10!!!! recommended to all!

A moost wonderful family film

[inkblot11 · 9/10 · 1 June 2005]

Bobby and his mother (Lolita Davidovich) move from Toronto to Nova Scotia after a divorce. Bobby is an excellent baseball pitcher and has been dragged away from his team to start anew; naturally, he is unhappy. When no else befriends him, a young girl named Josephine comes to his rescue. Jo takes Bobby on an adventure to a nearby island where a dead hermit's cabin used to be. Also inhabiting the island is male moose, who crossed on winter's ice and got stranded. It is Jo's dream to find him a mate. Can the two youngsters achieve this dream, with the help of Bobby's mother and Jo's father (Timothy Dalton)? This is a great family film, leaving the viewer to wonder why it is not better known, when will it be released on DVD, and why can't studios cook up more movies like this? It is a wonderful character building film, with Bobby and his mother learning to love life again after great disappointment and taking chances with friends who reach out to them. All animal lovers will be enchanted, too, as the moose in the film are delightful. With no objectionable material included, it is the perfect choice for family movie night. However, even if none of your family is nearby, don't let this film rest on the shelf. Anyone who views it will feel as good as new.