Emma's Chance

This is a movie that has all the look and feel of a Hallmark movie. Though, I don't say that in a disparaging way. If you are looking for that "type" of movie, then this scores on all levels.

Starring Greer Grammer, daughter of Frazier star Kelsey Grammer, she delivers a credible adoring performance - as she rightfully has built a respectable resume for herself.

Inspired by true events, the movie boasts some delightful themes of redemption, victory over challenges, and compassion for animals. While the movie was designed to delve into the world of animal abuse, the movie, to its credit, is never preachy or patronizing.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the movie's climax hinges on an equestrian competition involving novice Grammer. While equestrian aficionados will probably rail at her improbable and super-contrived and almost immediate rise to a champion-class competitor, the rest of us could care less about that and are simply eagerly waiting to gobble up the "feel good" candy.

If this is a movie you want to sit down and watch with your family of all ages and not have to wince at ANYTHING on screen and even have some insightful discussions afterwards, then you could not possibly be disappointed.

Emma Bailey (Greer Grammer) is a good girl and a pushover. Peer pressure pushes her to trespass onto a horse ranch run by Susan Peirce (Missi Pyle). She gets caught and has to do community service at the ranch. Kevin Chambers (Joey Lawrence) is the head ranch hand.

The story is simplistic. Of course, it ends with a contest and the prize winnings needed to save the situation. It's missing a good boy to be her romantic partner. It has the bad boy but she needs a good boy to pair with. He could be a student at school or a ranch hand or a student who follows her to the ranch. This does have the higher purpose of promoting a real place caring for abandoned or abused horses.

Yes, the movie is sugary sweet and predictable as heck, yet it's a film, in my opinion, that anyone in the family can enjoy. Wow! no explicit language, sex scenes, or violence in a movie these days. What is this world coming to?

The premise revolves around a teenage girl, Emma Bailey (Greer Grammar), who has fallen under the bad influence of some friends, and has been given community service at the Red Bucket Equine Reserve, in Southern California (an actual reserve which has rescued and rehabilitated over 300 horses to date).

Emma will grow to love the place and will form a special bond with the beautiful but temperamental horse Chance (a horse that was actually rescued at Red Bucket). However, the ranch is under constant financial stress and now things are getting quite dire. Thus, Emma and many others will do all they can to save it from being sold.

Grammar is solid in the lead role here, and Missi Pyle, Joey Lawrence, Christina Robinson, Jennifer Taylor, and Shanna Strong add well to the mix. The movie is written and directed by Anna Elizabeth James.

Overall, if you're looking for an action flick or a deep drama this is not it, but it's simply a feel-good light tale that anyone of any age might enjoy.

Emma's Chance appears aimed at tween to teenage girls. However, it has broad appeal and works as an educational, family-friendly film on two levels. In the "big picture," the movie sheds light on the 152,000 horses who are killed each year for meat after they are no longer useful to their owners. In the "little picture," children will learn about the tremendous time commitment a horse requires-along with the rewards of bonding to an animal. This movie is a must see for anyone who wants a horse. Red Bucket Equine Rescue, the real-life non-profit that serves as the location for the movie, says 85% of first-time horse owners get rid of their animals within five years. The movie uses Red Bucket to convey its message. Filming took place on the group's ranch in Chino Hills, California. According to its website, all the horses in the movie were rescues, including the star, show jumper "Chance", who was played by four different rescue horses. Actor Missy Pyle portrays real life founder Susan Pierce and actual volunteers filled in as extras. Adults will learn about the crushing financial burden facing Red Bucket and similar charities in need of support. Children will learn about the commitment and rewards of taking care of a horse through Emma (Greer Grammer). This "good girl" agrees to perform community service after falling in with the wrong crowd and soon learns to love horses. At times Emma's Chance feels like an infomercial, much like Apple of My Eye, which used Southeastern Guide Dogs to spotlight guide animals. However, both movies present meaningful messages in a thoughtful and entertaining way. There is nothing offensive in Emma's Chance. Even the "mean girls" are not really mean, just in need of a teachable moment. The movie moves in an uplifting trajectory and mirrors Emma's increasing self-confidence as she tackles the task of caring for a horse. The final scene may sadden some children, but it teaches an important life lesson.

Emma (Greer Grammar) gets in some teenage trouble and has to perform Community Service where her "crime" was committed: at the Red Bucket Rescue Equine Reserve. The Red Bucket Equine Reserve actually exists in California and has saved thousands of abused horses.

I watch a TV show called Heartland, a rescue horse farm in Canada, and it has been on since 2007 (and still going strong) and yes, I watch the re-runs also. So I am addicted and when I saw Emma's Chance I had to watch it.

The production is a little sappy at times, but can be watched by the whole family. Why there is a cautionary statement in the beginning that says it may not be suitable for small children is beyond me. There is no violence or anything threatening in here. (what if the small children are afraid of horses?) Hmmm……

Emma learns more about horses and horse care than she ever imagined she would. Emma endears herself to a horse named Chance and she becomes only the 2nd person he lets ride him.

The script is somewhat sketchy, but it gets in what is needed. The acting is a little shaky in places, in the sense that it's "get in" and "get out." as quickly as possible. That is the main failing, but this can be overlooked and I did that. I was more interested in Emma's relationship with Chance an abused and temperamental horse that Red Bucket did actually help save. And here they could have spent more time and inserted a little more humor.

Over all a good family movie that promotes the Red Bucket Equine Reserve in a good way. At the end of the movie you will see the Red Bucket's accomplishments. Willow was the real name of the horse that was actually saved, but in the movie that horse was called Chance. See?

And, yes, Greer Grammar is a daughter of Kelsey Grammar. (You knew we would ask, right?) (5/10)

Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.