Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 22, 1995                   TAG: 9507250026
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IF YOUR KIDS LIKED THE ORIGINAL, THEY'LL LIKE `FREE WILLY 2'

First, the bad news: Like most sequels, this one's an exercise in imitation. The first film is an odd variation on Hollywood's basic kids-'n-critters formula about the tender relationship that develops between troubled adolescent Jesse (Jason James Richter) and Willy the Killer whale (Keiko) who's cruelly imprisoned in an amusement park.

This film begins with a half-hearted attempt to create more emotional trouble for Jesse in the form of an obnoxious half-brother, Elvis (Francis Capra). Jesse's foster parents (Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson) take the boys on a camping trip to the coast where they meet Willy, who's been reunited with his family, too.

There's essentially no conflict in the first two-thirds of the film. Instead, director Dwight Little fills the screen with attractive Pacific Northwest scenery and slow-motion shots of killer whales cavorting in the water. That part of the movie looks like a National Geographic special without all that bothersome information about animal behavior. It's not enough to hold the interest of young viewers. Several of the kids at one recent matinee spent most of their time patrolling the aisles, and they had more fun than those of us who stayed in our seats.

When the oil tanker finally runs aground and spills crude all over the whales, the children paid a bit more attention. And they applauded at the shamelessly manipulative conclusion. When the movie was over, they were ready to leave. Parents will probably find that kids who really love the original will like this one, kind of.

And now for the rest of the bad news. If the previews are at all accurate, "Free Willy 2" is not going to be the most sickeningly sweet kiddie flick of the summer. "Babe," about the adventures of a talking pig, looks to have the inside track on that dubious distinction.

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home *

A Warner Bros. release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 94 min. Rated PG for mild comic violence and frequent use of the word "butt."