Not sure about other reviews that detail it's obvious film location as Canada based upon the pronunciation of "about" (a-boot)? The only people that say a-boot instead of about is the entire state of Minnesota. Plot is embarrassingly cliché. An adult man who maintains a position as a mechanic, but can't repair a car begs the question of how he was responsible enough to make it to father, homeowner and husband. As a horseman, blacksmith and farrier I find the very idea of making a movie using "calf penning" as a glory sport full of reward and big riches, very misleading. Additionally our leading lady could not pen if her life depended on it as all she can do is run a horse full out in a couple of scenes. No neck reining for cutting? Almost reminded me of weekend cowboys on renta horses, all elbows and heels flailing. The comeback dad, the accident that took him out of the running as a star, to the ex-partner who sold his horse, leaving dad to determine he can no longer compete, is totally unbelievable. I found it almost funny that he was fired for not putting oil in a customers car during a repair, and then, later in the movie, telling his ex-partner to get off his property by the time he's finished putting oil in his own truck. As far as it being a Canadian film, with a Canadian perspective on "our" way of life? Not sure who "our" or "us" is as the west and western way of life is not an American perspective alone.
... View MoreInteresting but cliché film dealing with a rodeo family. The father was injured in an accident some years before and that ended his career.Mom works as a waitress in a restaurant while the daughter dreams of becoming a vet while doing some ride competing for the family to earn dollars.Dad loses his job and it looks like the daughter will never get to college to pursue her dreams as she is dropping out. I love the way she drops back in by handing in her extra credit project to gain a scholarship and then catch up on the work she missed. Before all this, she tutors a boy in biology and love blossoms.With the horses conking out, dad suddenly is able to ride again and prevail. Daddy had lost his job as a repair person for not being that responsible on the job.We've seen this before. I gave it *** for those who like riding but really this is a **1/2 production.
... View MoreKind of a Fluff piece. Having ridden all of my life, and having my Grandfather teach me, even to include corrective Shoeing of a horse, the opening of the movie kind of insults my intelligence. Here is a woman supposedly a top penning rider, and she does not have a clue about how to ride a cutting horse. She holds the reins separately in each hand and reins as if she were reining a plow horse. All riders, even novices know that you hold the reins together and lay them against the side of the horses neck to rein the horse in the direction you wish to go. Also the type of horse that would be doing this type of work, is a cutting horse, and is directed more with leg and knee pressure. A good cutting horse, you can drop the reins on their neck, and work with leg pressure only to direct them, and never touch the reins. Maybe next time they will get a rider who actually knows how to ride a horse. As far as the rest of the movie. About the same. Milk Toast plot, Father has visions of one life for Daughter and Daughter has her own visions. What can I say. Another movie filmed in Canada with a Canadian view on our lives. They do not have a clue about life in the real world.
... View MoreThis Hallmark movie was on tonight. Set in Washington state, the surroundings looked more like Canada. Plus the young actors who played the boy and girl said "a-boot" for 'about', which is the Canadian way. However those were just points of interest, and did not detract from my enjoyment of the movie. I suppose it is still considerably more cost-effective (cheaper) to make movies there.Stephen Collins is Joe, former champion horseman who was badly injured 18 years earlier, and had to give up competitive cutting horse riding. However now he has a 17-year-old daughter who has become a champion rider under his coaching. Within the story we find out that she never really considered whether she actually wanted to do that, it was just something she always had done. It was her father's way of living the life he could not any longer. The mother is played by Barbara Williams as Helen, who also plays the guitar and sings.Canadian Magda Apanowicz is the girl, Brooke Preston, and she really does look 17 even though she is now in her 20s. The boy she becomes friends with is Canadian Brett Dier, a real teenager, as Caden.As the story progresses we find out that Joe was so focused on his daughter's riding that he didn't always take care of business at home and at work, as a mechanic. The family begins to worry that they may even lose their home. Brooke wants to go to college to be a Vet but worries that her parents may not be able to afford to send her. Joe had been counting on winnings from the horse competitions but when Brooke's horse broke down everything looked gray.A good, clean family drama that doesn't break any new ground, but has a worthwhile message.
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