Moby Dick (2010) – Film Review

Herman Melville’s nautical classic is modernised in this rendition of Moby Dick. Charting the savage rampage of the 500 foot long whale, the film manages to inject a liberal amount of cheese into the classic tale.

Starting in 1969, the film focuses on the vengeful relationship held between the great whale and one of his victims, Captain Ahab (Barry Bostwick). Barking out amazingly catchy (if not entirely cringey) lines (including ‘he took my leg. I don’t intend to give him my ass’ and the great ‘I’d strike the sun if it insulted me’), Bostwick marches from scene to scene with the aid of his ‘robo leg’, his real fleshy limb having been victim to the power of Moby Dick.

Kidnapping marine scientist Michelle Herman (a woman who’s supposedly meant to send the men of the film wild with desire), renegade Ahab and the crew of the nuclear submarine Pequod set about chasing the great mammal as well as eluding those hot on their tail.

From the off Moby Dick reeks of made-for-TV fodder; its effects aren’t exactly Hollywood quality whilst its scripting is mediocre at very best. Its flaws are nearly saved by the enjoyment had by those involved in the film – one watch of the film’s bloopers is enough to signal that cast and crew took a tongue-in-cheek approach to filming the piece.

The plot is loose, continuity is an ongoing problem and as soon as Ahab rams an old weathered cross to his leg you know this isn’t a film to be taken too seriously. Moby Dick’s ability to leap through the sky at great heights may have you wondering whether he and the effects team are at all related to Mega Shark and co.

By far not the greatest re-telling of the classic tale, Moby Dick should be watched to be believed.