The Whale tells a deeply saddening story centered on Charlie (played by Brendon Fraser), who is attempting to repair his relationship with his daughter. He struggles with obesity, which he uses as a way to deal with a life filled with remorse. This regret weighs heavily on Charlie throughout the film and seems inescapable. The role demands considerable acting skill, and Fraser delivers an exceptional performance. His emotional portrayal feels very real, enhancing scenes of intense sorrow and hopelessness. Beyond Fraser’s work, the rest of the cast also performs admirably; Hong Chau is particularly impressive, as her seemingly hardened exterior conceals a profound connection with Charlie. She's visibly distressed by his self-destructive habits but finds herself unable to stop them, leading to a difficult dynamic. Sadie Sink provides a strong performance as well, creating a character in Ellie who is intentionally unlikeable and hard to sympathize with. While this appears to be the intention of her role, at times her cruelty felt excessive, stretching believability and slightly diminishing the film’s overall impact. The movie unfolds at a somewhat deliberate pace; I thought the storyline involving Thomas was unnecessary and could have been removed without harming the story. However, despite these smaller issues, the film is elevated by outstanding performances, beautiful cinematography, and powerful emotions that will likely satisfy many viewers, though it may not appeal to all audiences. Score: 82% Verdict: Great

Source on TMDB