It's been 22 years since Simon Wincer's Free Willy hit theaters, but this live-action family drama (remember those?) has aged fairly well. It's essentially a slice of cinematic comfort food: predictable, well-meaning, and aimed at a broad audience, but still enjoyable under the right circumstances. Yours truly missed the boat on this one the first time around: I was well into high school by 1993 and had little interest in the adventures of a 12 year-old boy...and one look at its trailer pretty much told the entire story anyway (seriously, new viewers shout avoid it at all costs). In hindsight, however, I probably would have enjoyed Free Willy even as a teenager; my adult self couldn't help but balk at some of the film's ridiculous plot twists, mustache-twirling villains and cornball moments, but it's still a harmless production that features good performances, a sweet story, and the enjoyable presence of a six-ton Orca.

It just so happens that this Orca---named "Willy" and played by Keiko the whale (1976-2003)---has been captured from his ocean home and sold to Northwest Adventure Park's Aquarium in Portland, Oregon. He's uncooperative with his trainer Rae Lindley (Lori Petty) and keeper Randolph Johnson (August Schellenberg), but eventually forms a bond with 12 year-old vandal Jesse (Jason James Richter), who's working to repair damage he caused with friends several days earlier. Jesse lives with foster parents Annie and Glen Greenwood (Jayne Atkinson and Michael Madsen), but likewise feels more of a bond with the captured whale than his own caretakers. Training Willy for a show that might lead to financial success for the struggling park (not to mention bigger and better facilities), the three-person team faces opposition from park owner Mr. Dial (Michael Ironside) and his sidekick Wade (Richard Riehle), who will react accordingly if enough cold, hard cash isn't made to justify the expense of keeping the whale around.

There's a lot to like about Free Willy, and almost just as much to nitpick about. For starters, the central relationship between Jesse and Willy absolutely keeps this movie afloat when it counts, even as the film barrels into absurdity for its tense, third-act rescue attempt. Any moment with the two interacting feels infectiously enjoyable...and if not for this crucial chemistry, Free Willy would be completely sunk. Other relationships work well enough: from the lightweight but charming interactions between Jesse, Rae, and Randolph to the struggle with his foster parents, Free Willy isn't afraid to dig slightly below the surface instead of play it completely safe. But the film's early pacing issues, occasional lapses into cornball territory, and slightly padded structure (which, oddly enough, make it feel rushed and about 15-20 minutes too long simultaneously) don't do it any favors, either. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad.

Last released on home video by Warner Bros. as a 10th Anniversary Edition DVD, this Blu-ray feels exactly two years too late (three years early?)...and unfortunately, the delay didn't exactly produce anything much better than you'd expect. While this 1080p transfer is obviously a few notches above DVD's glass ceiling, the complete lack of new bonus features (or even the presence of the first and second sequels) makes this feel like a missed opportunity. Still, for a bargain-priced catalog title, Free Willy will be tough to resist to those who loved it in their younger days.

In all fairness, Warner Bros.' 10th Anniversary Edition DVD offered a decent visual presentation...but 12 years is plenty of time for improvement, and Free Willy has benefited from it. Though it's not advertised as a new or remastered presentation, this 2.35:1, 1080p transfer is crisp and natural from start to finish, which obviously makes it more pleasing to the eyes than your average 1080i DVD upscale. A fine layer of natural of film grain is present, the color palette appears to be nicely saturated (although skin tones tend to lean towards orange on some occasions), and textures are uniformly well-defined. Light edge enhancement and ringing can be spotted along the way, but this Blu-ray is free from compression artifacts, excessive noise, and other usual suspects. As always, daytime and outdoor scenes offer the most dramatic improvements, but I can't see most fans finding much to complain about here.

This default DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track replicates the source material quite nicely, even if it isn't as bombastic as you'd think at times; remember, 5.1 surround mixes weren't all that common yet in 1993. Nonetheless, this dialogue-driven movie features a few choice moments of surround activity, LFE, and good channel separation, specifically in the occasional underwater or action sequences and Basil Poledouris' rousing score. The dynamic range is controlled fairly well for smaller home theaters, preventing most of the usual "hand on remote" syndrome that plagues the majority of mainstream DVDs and Blu-rays. Optional French and Spanish dubs (Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0) are provided during the main feature, plus a dozen sets of subtitles including English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Free Willy isn't quite a shining example of timeless, bulletproof family entertainment, but it has its moments and those who saw it as kids will find that it holds up reasonably well. The lead performances are committed, Keiko's presence is always a highlight, and the film's warm cinematography and memorable soundtrack push most of the right buttons. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray is kind of a missed opportunity, though: while the A/V presentation is obviously improved, the lack of new extras (or the next two sequels, which would've made a no-brainer "Triple Feature") spoils the party somewhat. Still, it's priced right for a catalog title and nostalgic fans will certainly want to indulge. Recommended.