Nico the UnicornOwd Bob DVD with James Cromwell, Colm Meaney, Jemima Rooper (NR) +Movie Reviews

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Nico the Unicorn/Owd Bob
Actors: James Cromwell, Colm Meaney, Jemima Rooper, John Benfield, Anthony Booth
Directors: Graeme Campbell, Rodney Gibbons
Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

NR 2001 3hr 6min

Nico the Unicorn — With a disabled leg, a deceased father, and status as the new boy in a small Vermont town, 12-year-old Billy has the proverbial three strikes against him. But things start to turn around when his waitre... more »ss mom (the saintly Anne Archer) allows him to keep a scraggly pony he rescues from a con artist. And when the pony gives birth to a unicorn, and a pretty local girl assists Billy with the birth, things seem to be seriously looking up. But some nasty classmates discover their secret and soon everyone from police on horseback to news helicopters to the armed charlatan are chasing Billy and Nico up into the mountains. This fairly tale for grade schoolers has some real suspense and a magical ending that isn't too sentimental. Mom has a cop love interest (Michael Ontkean), but they keep it pretty tame. The mother pony does give her life to protect the foal; however, the carnage occurs off screen. This 95-minute film will most interest children 5 to 10 years of age, although true horse/unicorn lovers up to age 13 may enjoy it as well. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Owd Bob

You'd have to be some sort of an ogre to go wrong with Owd Bob. If warm, old-fashioned dog flicks aren't your thing, maybe stunning scenery is; green hills and azure seas don't get much more gorgeous than on Ireland's Celtic-breeze-whipped Isle of Man. Should neither of those appeal, though, it's easy to settle for simple good acting. Babe's James Cromwell stars as Adam McAdam, a grumpy old bugger who ticks away lonely days tending the farm alongside his champion sheepdog Zac. Then comes the day his orphaned American grandson, David, is dumped at his doorstep. McAdam, a pretty poor excuse for company, can't keep David from befriending neighbor girl Maggie Moore. Bad blood between the Moores and the McAdams runs deep, but the conflict du jour centers around dogs--Owd Bob, Maggie's pup, aims to put Zac to shame in the upcoming sheepherding tournament. Leading up to the contest, parallel story lines swirl around: Maggie's mom is dying, and a crew of local cronies suspect Zac, who's lately been spotted licking blood-stained chops, of being a sheep killer. While tensions between David and his grandfather escalate, David moves out, Maggie loses her mom, and the dogs do their stuff, with Zac coming out the victor. There's still the matter of the sheep murders, though. In a dramatic pup frame-up, Owd Bob is the fall guy, and only old man McAdam can save him from being destroyed. It's a sad ending for Zac, but one that allows McAdam's well-buried love for his grandson to surface. Whatever propels you to spring for this film, break out the family-sized popcorn bowl. Owd Bob's penchant for bringing folks together is as powerful in living rooms as it is onscreen. --Tammy La Gorce

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Movie Details

Actors: James Cromwell, Colm Meaney, Jemima Rooper, John Benfield, Anthony Booth
Directors: Graeme Campbell, Rodney Gibbons
Creators: Frank Sacks, Harry Alan Towers, Hélène Boulay, Sharon Buckingham
Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sub-Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Family Films, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Studio: Polygram USA Video
Format: DVD - Color,Full Screen
DVD Release Date: 08/14/2001
Release Year: 2001
Run Time: 3hr 6min
Screens: Color,Full Screen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 1
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

This was a GREAT movie!

Daniela | Falls Church, VA USA | 03/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It has action, drama, adventure, danger, and many more! It's a great movie! Weather you like horses or not, you'll love the suspence and action!"

Two so-so movies for the price of one

Staci L. Wilson | USA | 01/03/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Nico:

Bummed-out Billy (Kevin Zeggers) is the target of bullies because he has a permanent gimp; the injury was caused by a car accident that left him permanently disabled and killed his father. When Billy spots an abused pony at a traveling sideshow in town, he convinces his mother (Anne Archer) to let him buy the bony pony and rescue her from her "bullies". As it turns out, the mare is in-foal, and soon gives birth to Nico. Billy is convinced that the colt is a unicorn and although he tries to keep his special treasure a secret, his ruffian classmates soon get wind of the fantastical phenomenon and alerts the media. In an effort to protect Nico, Billy takes the magically-matured stallion into the forest, which, he finds is even more dangerous than the spotlight. Based on the book by Frank Sacks.

Owd Bob:

Taking place on the remote Isle of Man, Owd Bob follows the story of a hardhearted, embittered farmer (James Cromwell) who's feuding with his neighbor (Colm Meaney); each is determined to win the annual sheep-herding competition, but their chances are put into jeopardy when both men's dogs are suspected in a series of local sheep killings. This film is a remake of movies made in 1924 and 1938. Based on the book Owd Bob, Son of Battle by Alfred Ollivant.

This seems like a rather strange pairing to me. The first movie, while it is fast-paced, is dumbed-down for kids. The second movie, while intelligent enough for almost anyone to enjoy, is incredibly slow-moving. The first one is pure fantasy, while the second one is realistic to the point of being mundane.

Staci Layne Wilson

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