The Whale is an extremely powerful film that will have viewers deep diving into the decisions they have made in their lifetime.
The Whale is one of those movies that is an absolute struggle to watch, but for all the right reasons. It is extremely powerful and boasts some truly incredible performances. This film will stick with viewers for a long time, and will have them re-evaluating every single choice that they have made in life. The Whale packs an emotional punch. It builds and builds until the dams burst as everything comes together in the end, sure to send most of those watching into a fit of tears.
This story follows an obese online college course teacher, named Charlie (Brendan Fraser), who is so ashamed of how he looks that he doesn’t turn his camera on during lessons. He has some serious health issues and is pretty sure that he is dying. Given that he refuses to go to the hospital, it is apparent from the start of the movie how things are going to turn out. But that still won’t prepare you for when it does.
As he comes to terms with the fact that he is not long for this world, he takes the opportunity to reconnect with his daughter, who he hasn’t seen since he moved out when she was eight years old. In true teenager fashion, she is reluctant to spend any time with him until he offers to write her essays for her so that she will not fail high school. That, coupled with the offer to give her a whole ton of money, encourages her to keep coming back.
Charlie’s friend Liz (Hong Chau) is a nurse, who helps him as best as she can, but no matter how much she urges him to go to the hospital, he refuses. She quickly learns that all she can do is be a means of support for him. She is the rock throughout the movie, only breaking down and succumbing to her emotions a few times. Each time, however, is more powerful than the last.
A traveling missionary, who happens to arrive right at a time Charlie needs him, is also an important part of the story. He is played by Ty Simpkins, and things are not as they might seem with him. However, he is an intriguing and mysterious piece to the puzzle.
Sadie Sink is phenomenal in her role as Charlie’s daughter Ellie. The way that she portrays the internal conflict that would, of course, be present in a daughter who has dealt with what she has is very believable. The scenes between just her and Brendan Fraser are the most intense, as well as the most powerful. Anyone who has had issues with a family member that harbors resentment will be able to relate.
While Sink is a force to be reckoned with on screen, it is Fraser who makes this film one that will stick with audiences for some time. He struggles with his image, often referring to himself as disgusting. His refusal to get help even though he knows he will die if he doesn’t exudes a level of self hatred that is heartbreaking.
As his story goes on, and we learn more about his past, his story becomes even more saddening. He has had a traumatic past, however some of it has been due to his own poor choices. As he grows closer to death, all he wants is to do something right.
The pieces all come together in the final few moments of the film, and as realizations are made viewers are sure to find tears streaming down their faces. The ending is powerful, emotional, and heart wrenching.
The only real issue with The Whale is the predictability. Even for those who do not know the story, it is easy to infer where things will end up almost as soon as we start down the path. Still, there are some surprising connections and reveals that only make the story even more effective.
Choosing to go with just one setting, for the most part, is brilliant. The main focus is Charlie’s apartment, which helps viewers to relate to his feeling of isolation. He cannot move around well and forcing us to stay in the same place with him allows us to relate to him more. Considering that this film is adapted from a stage show, it makes perfect sense.
There are a few missteps along the way with the pacing and the fact that it almost feels like a play, but overall The Whale is one of the best films of the year. Not only is the lead performance from Fraser able to evoke emotions that have long been buried, the supporting cast each fills their roles perfectly.
This movie is haunting in the sense that it will not easily be forgotten. It’s a struggle to get through simply because of heavy and relatable and devastating it is. A look into the life of an obese recluse as he nears the end of it, The Whale packs an emotional punch that will not soon be forgotten.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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About The Whale
Writing instructor Charlie (Fraser) never seems to have his webcam enabled while teaching online. He makes excuses and is so good-natured that no one makes a fuss, but the real reason for his invisibility is his appearance. Charlie weighs 600 pounds.
His obesity starts to pose a grave threat to his health and his friend Liz (Hong Chau, also at this year’s Festival in The Menu), a nurse, begs him to check into a hospital, but also recognizes that it might be more important to simply offer support.
Charlie’s current status quo is upended by the return of his long-estranged adolescent daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), though her willingness to resume a relationship seems prompted as much by Charlie’s offers to ghostwrite her school essays as it is by her sense of familial loyalty.
Meanwhile, Charlie receives visits from a door-to-door evangelist (Ty Simpkins) who engages him in a dialogue about redemption that, despite Charlie’s lack of religious inclination, proves surprisingly resonant. Can any of these folks, regardless of their personal agendas, serve as the lifeline to self-acceptance that Charlie so urgently needs?
The Whale hits theaters on December 9th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.