As you’ve probably heard by now, “Dolphin Tale 2” has officially swum into theaters as of Friday, September 12. And while I’m obviously extremely excited about this, I’m also a bit apprehensive — there were just so many questions left unanswered by the first “Dolphin Tale,” and without further knowledge of another sequel, it’s worrisome that the franchise might pull a “Lost” and leave me hanging.
Of course I’ll reserve my judgment for when I see the actual film, but these are the 11 questions from “Dolphin Tale” that “Dolphin Tale 2″ MUST answer, lest I demand my money back:
1. What happened to the fishermen who carelessly allowed Winter to become trapped?
Did they receive the death penalty? I hope so!
2. Did Donovan Peck find things to like about himself outside of swimming?
Warner Bros.
Donovan wasn’t the most likable character in “Dolphin Tale,” and we know he went on to win the Junior National Swim Championship for the Clearwater High Tornadoes, but what happened next? As we learned from Kyle’s tragic story, sometimes life can take you on a course you never expected. Kyle himself was lucky enough to have friends and family to lean on when he was injured, but what if Donovan’s swim career was DOA? Was he able to find things to like — hell, even love — about himself out of the water? This is a part of the story I really hope “Dolphin Tale 2″ has time to tell.
3. What happened to Sawyer’s mini-helicopter building hobby?
Sawyer was great with Winter, sure, but he was even better at building miniature helicopters, as we saw in the first film. I’d love to see the second film explore this aspect of Sawyer’s life further.
4. Did Rufus the pelican ever chill the f— out?
Warner Bros.
Look. I know Rufus was a fan-favorite character and what not, but his antics undoubtedly created an unsafe atmosphere for children. The fact that Dr. Clay let him stick around was… troubling… and I sure hope that no one perished due to Rufus’ unquenchable thirst for blood between films.
5. Was Hazel ever allowed to roam the back area of the Clearwater Marine Hospital without adult supervision?
This rule seemed massively unfair, especially given her skill with the animals and predilection for doing the right thing. This really seemed like a father-daughter trust issue, and it needs to be addressed in this second movie. How can Hazel bloom where she’s planted, Dr. Clay, if you take away all of her light?
6. Did Dr. McCarthy ever clean his work space?
Warner Bros.
When you work with amputees, you shouldn’t have so much clutter in your work area. This is undoubtedly dangerous, and while I get that the first film didn’t have time to address whether or not Dr. McCarthy cleaned his office, the second film has no such excuse.
7. Also, did Dr. McCarthy ever use those extra vacation days?
He said he had multiple, and it’s his legal right to take them. Did he actually go on vacation? If so, where? Hopefully, “Dolphin Tale 2″ will really dig in to where, exactly, McCarthy went during his time off.
8. Did Kyle and Sandra hook up?
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Bow chicka wow wow. Sandra did a HUGE solid for Kyle and Sawyer when she announced the “Save Winter” fund raiser live on Clearwater television, and I’m guessing his million dollar smile and rock-hard abs had about as much to do with this as his great cause and veteran status. Do you think they ever hooked up, or did Sandra fulfill the dream she probably has of making it in the news in New York City?
9. Did Mr. Doyle ever create a more engaging curriculum for his students?
He was having a hard time getting them to connect with prepositional phrases, and it really felt like, if he had been more willing to embrace less traditional and test-focused teaching methods, he could have connected with his pupils and successfully produced an engaged and productive generation of future workers.
10. Did Hazel ever get tired of playing second-fiddle to Sawyer even though she CLEARLY had just as much to do with Winter’s recovery as he did?
Warner Bros.
Hopefully, Hazel will take some feminist courses in the second movie, and fully realize her worth as the Penny to Dr. Clay and Sawyer’s Inspector Gadget/Brain dynamic.
11. Did Winter ever return to the Evil King Dolphilonious’ lair to defeat his army of genetically engineered seahorses, and reclaim leadership of the South Florida Underwater Sea Kingdom, freeing her enslaved cousin Seaweed in the process?
Warner Bros.
This was huge. They need to address this one in the second movie, or else I’ll really ask for my money back.
“Dolphin Tale 2″ is now in theaters.
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