This movie's probably too much. It's almost three hours long, it's overblown, it's melodramatic, it's cheesy and sentimental as hell, and it contains zero subtlety. But I tend to be a sucker for those adolescent qualities, especially when they're drenched in atmosphere and nostalgia, so I was generally able to go along with it.
As you'd expect, the strongest sequences in The Big Blue are the ocean-related ones. This movie really captures the wonder and terrifying beauty of that mystical place, with nature doc-worthy photography and a portrayal reverent enough to put James Cameron to shame. And while the human element's not quite as strong (though maybe that's the idea; Jacques is clearly only happy when he's underwater or engaging with dolphins), I like the friendly rivalry between the two male leads, and Arquette and Reno give fairly affable performances, over-the-top as they are.
Is this movie as deep or complex as the setting its depicting? Not especially. But there's a hypnotic and cartoonish quality to it that I nevertheless found mesmerizing.
Grade: B+
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