New Stan film Whale Shark Jack is a kid-focused tribute to WA’s awe-inspiring coastline

Whale Shark Jack is Stan’s heartfelt, kid-focused addition to the Australian wildlife movie canon.

Its brief run time and ambitious mix of genres means some elements are under-cooked. Nonetheless, the film shines as a love letter to Western Australia’s coastline and its community.

Girl meets whale shark

Whale Shark Jack begins on WA’s world-heritage listed Ningaloo Reef. The young Sarah (played by Alyla Browne as a 12-year-old, and by Emmi Williams as a younger child) lives on a boat with her parents, Nita (Abbie Cornish) and Marcus (Michael Dorman) – both of whom research whale sharks.

Sarah and her parents befriend and begin tracking a whale shark they call Jack. When Marcus is killed in a storm, Nita and Sarah return to the coastal town of Exmouth, where Sarah must attend school for the first time.

Sarah struggles to fit in at school, and tracks Jack against her mum’s wishes in the hope they can return to their life on the water. Along the way, she teams up with schoolmates E.J. and Ashleigh (newcomers Luca Miller and Giselle Philogene), and the three work together to find Jack when he might be in trouble.

One story – many genres

The film follows Sarah and Nita as they they move forward and build a community after tragic loss. It’s also a coming-of-age story about a tween girl finding her place in a new environment. It has drama, comedy, adventure and a clear environmental message. While the overall narrative is strong, some of the genre elements and tonal shifts work better than others.

Whale Shark Jack joins a well established canon of Australian wildlife films. With support from the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, it seems to mainly want to attract a younger audience.

In doing so, the film is sometimes overly sentimental and occasionally didactic, particularly in early scenes with the younger Sarah. Moments featuring Luca Miller’s straight-talking E.J. and Karen O’Leary’s quirky coast guard, Rosie, bring some much needed humour – but they are few and far between. The film’s sombre moments are compelling, and Alyla Browne carries its most emotional scenes.

At just 85 minutes, the story is engaging and doesn’t overstay its welcome, but it does miss an opportunity to develop Sarah’s relationship with her father. So viewers might struggle to really mourn his loss, except through Browne and Cornish’s performances.

Showcasing Ningaloo

The film mostly succeeds as a showcase for the landscapes, wildlife and marine life of Ningaloo and Exmouth.

The flat, red earth makes for a striking contrast to the bright, blue ocean. Shots of Sarah swimming with Jack are visually impressive and show off Browne’s diving skills (she trained for two years in preparation for the role). The production team uses spectacular puppetry and effects to create the whale sharks.

Whale sharks are considered endangered, and the filmmakers said they wanted to highlight the “fragile reality” these animals face due to “climate change, habitat loss, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices”. Whale Shark Jack doesn’t dwell much on these threats, but it may still inspire curiosity and care in its audience.

It’s also a thoughtful celebration of the local Baiyungu language and culture. Screenwriter Kathryn Lefroy collaborated with associate producer and Baiyungu Traditional Owner Hazel Walgar to develop the characters of E.J. and his parents.