After the death of his father, troubled teen Jake Gattison (Hugh) travels with his mother to Harmony Ranch, a special retreat for families dealing with problems. There, Jake discovers a kindred spirit in Troubadour, a youn... more »g stallion that has lost his mother and is acting out in distress. Ranch owner Chief (Rooney), allows Jake to work with him to calm the uneasy horse. When Troubadour suddenly runs away, Jake makes it his mission to bring the lost stallion home. He sets out with his new friends Nicki (Handy) and Isaac (Stroud), two other troubled teens, on a journey into the wilderness. It's an adventure that will change their lives forever...« less
"No overpaid, under-worked Hollywood stars other than Mickey Rooney; no sex; no violence - just the thing for families looking for something they can watch together at home. True, there is no big production budget and the actors will never win an Oscar, but this movie proves that good entertainment can be filmed in the U.S. (in rural North Carolina); explosions and gunfire do not a movie make.
This is a simple story about the pain a teenaged boy feels at the loss of his father and how that pain led him astray. He finds the better path again when he and his widowed mother go to a kind of dude ranch where the boy learns to take care of horses and to be a mentor to a younger, goofier kid. There is even a love interest for the boy, but it goes no further than a kiss and holding hands.
Buy this and give it to families who have kids 8-15."
Great Family Movie Night Option
MomOfMyKids | North Carolina | 04/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Great Family Film
P. H. Rhyne | 06/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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 FUN WITH MICKEY ROONEY AND ALSO HIS WIFE JAN!!!
THIERRY | CALIFORNIA | 10/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This film is super. It was filmed only a few minutes from where I live. I actually got to meet my hero Mickey Rooney on the set of this film. It's a beautiful family picture. No bad language or themes. :)
I went to see it in the theatre and was not disappointed.
Mickey and his wife Jan both have great roles. What a treat to see MY HERO in another horse film. Mickey (even at 87) still has it! What a legend, what a talent. His wife Jan also is great. She plays his wife. What a treat. The entire movie was enjoyable and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!!!!! Buy it today!!!
www.mickeyrooneyfanclub.com
JESSIE"
A Great Family Film
Sam Dean | Flint, MI | 08/14/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."