Rodeo Girl

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.

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")

I have to sort of disagree with one of the reviews that a horse can't "change it's training". There have been many that changed their careers. However, I don't think this horse would be one of those. There is just too much information and access to real barrel racers that could have made the show much more realistic. First of all, a barrel race is just that - a race - not a trot and lope around the barrels! While they did try to get a lot of the lingo correct, they could have done better. There was just so much potential with this show, but it fell way short. Still a good, clean family film that to the non horseman or non barrel racer would be quite entertaining.

This movie had a very bad story line with even worse acting. I was terribly bored and annoyed with the sassy teenagers but the inaccurate horsemanship and knowledge entertained me enough to watch about 45 minutes of it. Absolutely terrible acting and story line, and not good for kids because the message was that's it's ok to be a spoiled brat and sass your parents and other people for no reason.

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