Look, Free Willy 3 has its heart in the right place—saving whales, teenage environmental activism, standing up to bad guys. But let's be honest: this is a direct-to-video third sequel from 1997, and it shows.

The environmental message is solid and could genuinely spark interest in marine conservation. But the execution is tired, the production values are dated, and modern kids will likely struggle to stay engaged with the pacing and visual style. It's the movie equivalent of eating your vegetables—technically good for you, but nobody's excited about it.

If your kid is obsessed with whales or has nostalgia for the original Free Willy, maybe. Otherwise, there are better ways to teach ocean conservation that won't feel like a time capsule from the '90s. Consider it a backup option for a rainy day when you've exhausted everything else.