Rodeo Girl

I don't claim to be an authority on horses, but what little I do know kind of downplays any enthusiasm for this film.

Adolescent Sarah Bolen is sent to live in rural Michigan with her father Kevin Sorbo for the summer and she's not seen much of him over the years so she's disappointed. Her mother keeps her in a lifestyle that's extravagant for them, she has a show horse that she's training for competition. Sorbo's farm out there might be a good training ground for her and the horse.

But she develops an enthusiasm for rodeo when she arrives no doubt fueled by a young rodeo cowboy Derek Brandon who works for Sorbo. I won't say any more.

But for the life of me I can't see how a horse bred for shows could be turned into a horse used for barrel racing in a rodeo. Just not done and I think the film will be justly criticized for it. Like trying to train a thoroughbred race horse all of a sudden into a horse for harness racing. The smartest of horses, Mr. Ed in fact just wouldn't take to it though Mr. Ed could articulate why from his point of view.

Nice family film otherwise, but the horse changing his training is too big to overlook.

I Really Really Loved this show and being the Barrel Racer I am, I just love to see these shows Especially if it's winter out and all my shows are done this shows just make me feel alive and they always get me ready for more racing!! All in all I would say Its a great show for any horse person, someone wanting to do barrel's, and or "Normal" people wanting to see what "Horse" people do....Now English Riders Are not that stuck up yes there can be a hand full that are rude and stuck up but there are a hand full of barrel racers like that to... almost anyone is like this because they think they are better than everyone... This show is trying to get the point a crossed that no one is better than someone else and we should all see what others do before we judge them... you never know you maybe BEST FRIENDS some day or LIKE the SPORT that the play. Just take step back and watch....listen.... and learn

I am a very famous movie critic, and might I say, this movie is truly PERFECT. If you look closely, you can see it is taken in Indiana, which is my home state, and the best location EVER :D I was born before time and space and let me tell you, this movie makes me cry every time I watch it, especially when I see my daughter and her wonderful acting was in it! Overall, I think it needs 3 Grammies and an Oscar nomination, 12/10 would recommend to anyone with taste because of the acting and how accurate it is. The horses too this day, I still think that they were so accurately portrayed and also had the best acting. To this day, I'm still waiting for its sequel. Thank you Lucas Miles :D

In New England, the spoiled Priscilla (Sophie Bolen) loves horse riding and lives with her mother Abigail (Janet Caine). When Abigail decides to travel with her wealthy boyfriend, he gives the US$ 75,000 horse Lassie to Priscilla and she sends her daughter and Lassie to stay with her estranged father Duke Williams (Kevin Sorbo) in his ranch in Michigan. The snobbish Priscilla does not treat her father well, but soon she befriends his friend Laura Mae (Sherryl Despres) and his employee Sage (Derek Brandon). When they go to a rodeo, Priscilla decides to train to dispute barrel racing and Sage teaches her. Meanwhile, the wealthy farmer Carl Davenport (Mark Boyd) wants to buy Duke's land and his reckless son harasses Priscilla that is improving in the rodeo competition. When Abigail arrives in the ranch, Duke and Priscilla learn that her boyfriend was a con-artist and she does not have money to pay the price of Lassie, and will have to resell the horse. Priscilla vanishes and Duke has to take an attitude.

"Rodeo Girl" is a good family entertainment film, with the story of a spoiled girl that loves horse riding and has to stay with her estranged father that she has never met before. Priscilla's character is a typical 14-year-old unpleasant spoiled teenager, and the story should have included something that real hurts to change her behavior and attitude. The scene where the teenager drugs the horse should have had consequences for him. But anyway, the story is light and nice to see with the family. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Tempo de Mudanças" ("Time of Changing")

As far as fantasy horse flicks for girls go, there are plenty of films to choose from. Some are abismally bad, others had potential and lost it. But to find a clean film for a young audience set to a backdrop of horses, the best options are in short supply, and this one is on the line for watchable.

First some of the bad: The cinematography, from a technical standpoint, was sorely lacking. Some scenes suffered from poor lighting, others had blown out highlight or had contrast and colour settings that distracted from the story - which was so so. But there are some good things.

In spite of these challenges, Kevin Sorbo deserves recognition for delivering a good performance. There are plenty of shots of competition riding in rodeo, and this also plays to the audience intended.

There are better films, of course, and more accurate films for those educated in equine practices, but if you've seen those big blockbusters, this is a watchable option for an evening with young daughters.