(EW.com) -- A dolphin named Winter loses its tail to a crab trap in "Dolphin Tale" -- a (sometimes sickly) sweet family film based on a true story. It's no spoiler to say that there is a happy ending, partly because this is the kind of constantly uplifting heart-warmer in which even the villains are congenial, but also because the injured animal is played by its real-life counterpart. Morgan Freeman also plays a version of himself as a kindly wise man whose expertise in prosthetics helps save Winter. While the plot occasionally feels like "Free Willy" without the drama, it's a cute story if you don't mind temporarily trading in your cynicism for a bag of popcorn. EW.com rating: B- . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
It's no spoiler to say that there is a happy ending . The injured animal is played by its real-life counterpart . Morgan Freeman also plays a version of himself .