Whalefall's whale scenes deliver, but the father and son story didn't for me

I just got out of Whalefall, and my reaction is split. If you're going for the ocean stuff and the whale, that part absolutely delivers. The father and son story, unfortunately, didn't deliver for me. Austin Abrams stars, alongside Josh Brolin and Elisabeth Shue, and I love seeing Elisabeth Shue back.

The premise is basically this: Abrams is in the ocean, gets swallowed by a whale, Pinocchio style, and the question is whether he can get out. If that's what you're going to the movie for, it delivers on that aspect.

Austin Abrams carries Whalefall's swallowing sequence and beyond

This is trailer material, so it's not a spoiler: when he gets swallowed by the whale, the way it's shot is crazy. It's devastating. You're on the edge of your seat, holding your breath, just waiting. That's also a testament to what Abrams does throughout. He's young in his career, and they're giving him the kind of thing Tom Hanks had to do in Cast Away and Ryan Gosling had to do in Project Hail Mary. He pretty much has to carry this movie on his own for the most part, and during his scenes in the whale, that stuff works.

It's nailbiting. It's a little silly here and there, but for the most part it holds up. The way it's shot, it could get dull, but it doesn't, because it runs about an hour and 40 minutes. They lock the movie in with this story, connecting it back and forth, and ultimately it really relies on Abrams' performance. When he's in that whale trying to figure out how to get out, that part absolutely delivers.

The Josh Brolin father and son story didn't connect for me

I love Josh Brolin, and I'm a big fan of his. What didn't work for me was the connection between what's happening with the whale and the father and son story. I wanted to be locked in and emotionally tied to that story, and it just didn't deliver for me. I didn't lock into his character as much, and I didn't feel for him as much.

Maybe that's a me thing. I'm not sure. If you do connect to that part, I think you're going to love this movie.

My verdict: I liked Whalefall, but it's not a must see right now

I wanted to absolutely love this movie. I wound up liking it. It's not one where I'd tell you to run to the theater right now, but it's an experience.

Are you planning to see Whalefall?