The existence of walruses and polar bears is threatened by global warming, so what is so funny about that?

Arctic Tale

Check listings for details

The theme of global warming is abundantly present in nearly every beautifully shot frame of Arctic Tale, yet the lofty theme and stunning nature footage is disappointingly let down by a narrative that fails to give its backdrop the respect and dignity it deserves. With the recent success of environmental films like An Inconvenient Truth and March of the Penguins, there was bound to be a slew of new films trying to capture that same glory. However, like most imitators, this one is not nearly as good as its predecessors.
    The film takes us into the heart of one of the most intense and inhospitable climates in the world, showing us animal behaviours that have rarely been captured on film. Instead of following in the tradition of its big sister, March of the Penguins (also a National Geographic Film), Arctic Tale dumbs down its subject by fabricating a narrative that most discerning audiences will see as a manipulated storyline.
    Following the tale of Seela, a newborn Walrus, and Nanu, a newborn polar bear, the film assembles footage shot over 15 years by married couple Sarah Robertson and Adam Ravetch and weaves it together into one singular story. Where March of the Penguins succeeded with its dignified and elegant objective narration, Arctic Tale fails by creating a juvenile family-friendly story that feels more like a Disney movie than a nature documentary. The facts surrounding the animals’ journeys should require no further embellishment, but the film  anthropomorphizes the walrus and polar bear, overloading itself with overt sentimentality and cringe-worthy cheesiness. When Queen narrator Latifah notes that "Seela's tusks are filling out nicely, and some of the boys are starting to take notice,” the film becomes a caricature of a meaningful nature doc. A distracting soundtrack with tracks such as “We Are Family,” intended to show solidarity during a session of walrus group flatulation, does nothing to bolster the film’s attempt to cover serious subject matter.
    Though the film leaves one feeling cheated, the achievement of the filmmakers cannot be overlooked. With stunning cinematography by Ravetch and a grandiose appreciation of their surroundings, the film succeeds at demonstrating the decline of the Arctic ice and the environmental impact global warming is having on the Arctic. Still, in a story punctuated with fiction, how is anyone supposed to take this message seriously?