So-so movie. Not a "horse movie"! If you're looking for "horse movies," this one isn't what you're looking for. It's a decent family film, I suppose. My horse-loving son was wondering where the horses were! Overall we wouldn't recommend it, though it wasn't terrible.
A Great Family Film To be honest this movie moves very slow. It has its moments when it grabs your attention and moments when you yawn. It is not exactly boring but it definitely is not Academy Award fare.
The love interests don't go far enough. One kiss and holding hands--WOW! The acting is reasonably good. The value of the film is elevated by the appearance of the legendary Mickey Rooney. Without him it would be Dudsville.
So, with that, I wonder why at times I found tears running down my cheek. I wonder why I felt like hugging the characters when certain emotional scenes played. I wanted to pet the horses. And the wolf scene! That wolf was not ferocious. I would not have been afraid to walk up and pat him on the head. I think he would have run away, or licked my hand. It must have took some heavy training to get him to snarl the way he did.
So, in conclusion I rate the movie 4 stars because of the family connection. It was definitely a G-rated movie. It would definitely be suited for every member of the family. And that, we need more of. Great Family Film As a parent, I love it when I can find a movie that I feel comfortable viewing with the whole family. I find it extremely refreshing to see a movie portray strong family values and such a heart-felt message. To see the legendary Mickey Rooney AND the beautiful scenery of rural North Carolina in this film were an added bonus! I definitely recommend this movie to anyone looking for a Great Family Film!Great Family Movie Night Option This is a very sweet movie. For modern audiences who expect thrills and chills at every turn - well, it isn't going to happen. It's a pretty old-fashioned story, with Mickey Rooney very nicely cast in the role that calls for a "Mickey Rooney" type. Roger Willie does a great turn as well. The kid who is at the center of the drama,(Jake), seems to have two emotions, and I think he could have been better cast, but otherwise the film seems to be nicely cast. David Rotan is a young director and I expect to see good things from him in the future. The movie was beautifully photographed and the scenery is part of what makes this a movie to embrace. It doesn't pretend to be anything except what it is, a very sweet movie. It's a movie that children can watch with grandparents, and the parents in the room won't be embarrassed for either to see it. I hope there's a sequel, and they could show the story of the gang that the main character was a part of, or the "Bullied Teen" (who gets beaten up early on by the gang) with the focus on how his life was changed by what happened. I think there could be a family oriented series here, whether Mr. Rooney is able to be involved or not. This was filmed in NC.Horses This is NOT a VERY good movie. Boring. I have , I think, every Horse DVD published.
