This movie has a huge number of problems. Others have pointed out the problems with the military--ranks, uniforms, behavior. That's not my area of expertise, but even I could tell there were real problems.
Then there was the problem with acting. I like Bailee Madison and gave "Cowgirls 'n Angels" an 8. But she wasn't as good in this one. The direction probably was poor. The script was weak; she didn't have much to work with. And the other characters were flat--both as characters and as actors. Other reviews have called out the actress who played Savannah, but that's only one example. Let's not even consider Pat Boone.
The plot--without giving anything away--resolves with a happy ending for all--for Savannah (a double happy ending), for Dusty (a triple happy ending)--and so on. There's some tension throughout, but it's all wrapped up in a happy, neat and unbelievable bundle.
The title itself--"A Cowgirl's Story"--suggests this has something to do with cowgirls. The earlier Bailee Madison movie "Cowgirls 'n Angels" did. This is just about a group of high school girls who like to ride horses.
Okay. Defenders of the movie point out that girls in the age range of 8-14 probably won't much care or notice about those problems. I'd put that age range at more like 8-10. There are some scenes that might bother younger children, but kids are smart and a 14-hear-old will see a lot of problems. But there are other problems that even younger girls will care about, and problems their parents will care about, too.
The injection of God--the awkward injection that seems unnatural, largely unnecessary, and a technique that stops the plot in its tracks--was poorly done. Some could have been left in and better woven into the plot, if one felt the need to include a message about God. It would have been a lot more effective that way. But this was like getting slapped in the face with a dead fish. Repeatedly.
This movie also comes across as anti-war and, thus, oddly, anti-military. Yes, the theme is how these girls handle their lives while their parents are fighting in Afghanistan. I don't want to give away the plot, but while the actual soldiers are portrayed respectfully and heroically, it's certainly possible to develop a dislike for the military establishment. There's a line from a Phil Ochs song--"I Aint Marching Anymore" that goes:
It's always the old to lead us to the wars It's always the young to fall Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun Tell me, is it worth it all?
And this message is reinforced by the dedication at the end of the movie to the military casualties in Afghanistan. If you're anti-war (and honestly I was with respect to Afghanistan), that's a good message. But otherwise just be aware of that theme running through the movie.
This is not a movie for anyone--kids or their parents.
Then there was the problem with acting. I like Bailee Madison and gave "Cowgirls 'n Angels" an 8. But she wasn't as good in this one. The direction probably was poor. The script was weak; she didn't have much to work with. And the other characters were flat--both as characters and as actors. Other reviews have called out the actress who played Savannah, but that's only one example. Let's not even consider Pat Boone.
The plot--without giving anything away--resolves with a happy ending for all--for Savannah (a double happy ending), for Dusty (a triple happy ending)--and so on. There's some tension throughout, but it's all wrapped up in a happy, neat and unbelievable bundle.
The title itself--"A Cowgirl's Story"--suggests this has something to do with cowgirls. The earlier Bailee Madison movie "Cowgirls 'n Angels" did. This is just about a group of high school girls who like to ride horses.
Okay. Defenders of the movie point out that girls in the age range of 8-14 probably won't much care or notice about those problems. I'd put that age range at more like 8-10. There are some scenes that might bother younger children, but kids are smart and a 14-hear-old will see a lot of problems. But there are other problems that even younger girls will care about, and problems their parents will care about, too.
The injection of God--the awkward injection that seems unnatural, largely unnecessary, and a technique that stops the plot in its tracks--was poorly done. Some could have been left in and better woven into the plot, if one felt the need to include a message about God. It would have been a lot more effective that way. But this was like getting slapped in the face with a dead fish. Repeatedly.
This movie also comes across as anti-war and, thus, oddly, anti-military. Yes, the theme is how these girls handle their lives while their parents are fighting in Afghanistan. I don't want to give away the plot, but while the actual soldiers are portrayed respectfully and heroically, it's certainly possible to develop a dislike for the military establishment. There's a line from a Phil Ochs song--"I Aint Marching Anymore" that goes:
It's always the old to lead us to the wars It's always the young to fall Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun Tell me, is it worth it all?
And this message is reinforced by the dedication at the end of the movie to the military casualties in Afghanistan. If you're anti-war (and honestly I was with respect to Afghanistan), that's a good message. But otherwise just be aware of that theme running through the movie.
This is not a movie for anyone--kids or their parents.