Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Blue Miracle – Netflix Originals
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.
“Blue Miracle” is based on the true story of a street kid guardian in Cabo San Lucas who teamed up with a washed up boat captain to try to save his orphanage by entering the world’s biggest fishing tournament, the Brisbee Black and Blue, that attracts the best teams from around the globe competing for millions in prizes
A hurricane struck the island just before the tournament, so Wayne Brisbee (Bruce McGill) changed the rules to waive the costly tournament fee to attract local fisherman to enter. Captain Wade (Dennis Quaid) was the only two time champion of the Brisbee’s Black and Blue and saw this as an opportunity for a third title, but was only allowed to enter if he teamed up with local orphanage owner Omar (Jimmy Gonzales) and several of the boys from the orphanage.
Brisbee put this together because he learned the Omar was over $100K in debt for the orphanage and that they were due to be evicted by the end of the month if they were unable to pay. Brisbee had called the bank on Omar’s behalf, but unfortunately was unable to help Omar, so saw the fishing tournament as Omar’s last chance to save the orphanage and keep the boys off the streets. Captain Wade was not happy with the arrangement, not wanting kids on the boat and especially one (Moco) that had stolen his watch earlier that week, but knew it was the only way he would be able to enter the tournament.
Papa Omar (as the boys called him) was a street kid himself, having lost his father in a boating accident while fishing when he was very young that made entering the tournament a huge challenge, though knew it was his only chance to raise the money he needed. Captain Wade sailed the boat into open waters, bait the hook with his lucky lure named after his wife and set the line for Moco who was chosen to be in the “fighting chair” the first day as the rules stated only one person can touch the pole to reel in the fish. After a few hours, the line began to reel out, so they called in they had a fish on the line only to find a large hunk of trash and seaweed.
The second day the team showed up in matching team polo shirts and Wiki was chosen to reel in the fish. Two of the boys got in an argument at the bow of the boat at the same time that a real fish got hooked on the line, but because Omar and none of the other boys knew how to swim, Captain Wade had to abandon showing Wiki how to reel in the marlin and dive in the ocean to rescue the other two boys. Unfortunately, the line snapped, the marlin got away and after hours of waiting without any success, they returned disappointed in themselves and unsure about competing the third day as Captain Wade decided it was a good time to drink his worries away.
Omar brought Captain Wade some homemade Mexican hangover food, and shared his financial troubles about the orphanage. Captain Wade was committed to helping Omar and showed up to the orphanage with a plan to hide previously caught marlin under the boat when the head out for the third day and to put it on the line when the boys were distracted thinking it could get them 3rd or maybe even 2nd place. Though Omar was conflicted, he agreed, but when it came time to fake catch the fish he dumped it over the side.
Captain Wade was distraught, but Omar knew he did the right thing and just a short time later and quite by surprise they hooked a marlin, which Omar reeled in after 40 minutes in the “fighting chair” that was big enough to actually win the tournament and save the orphanage.
Runtime: 1hr 36min
