Rodeo Girl: Dream Champion (2016) User Reviews

Good Family Film

[Medic2762 · 5/10 · 2 April 2016]

I gave it 5/10 because it's a family friendly film. The language was clean, and there were no innuendos. However, it drug along. Our 13 year old son lost interest after about 30 minutes.

Priscilla (the main character) was a teenage girl in New England attending an elite Boarding Academy where Equestrian was a large part of her life. Her mother and her new fiancé announced to Priscilla they were leaving on a 4 month world cruise without Priscilla. She would have to go to Michigan to stay with her father, whom she had not seen since she was 1 year old after her mother left him.

She arrives in Michigan cold and distant. Through various circumstances, after her horse arrives from the East Coast, she becomes interested in barrel racing at a local rodeo. The rest of the movie revolves around her quest assimilate and to excel at the sport. This desire brings about conflict and growth with her dad, whom she calls "Duke", and her mother, who makes a devastating decision that could derail all the progress Priscilla has made over the summer.

I don't want to say too many bad things about this film, as it was obviously a low-budget production and the producers were trying to make something that was wholesome that the entire family could enjoy. The filming quality and editing were good but the acting was a bit stiff and continuity was almost non-existent.

However, despite the flaws, it was still a decent family film.

Horses bred for one thing just can't change

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 1 March 2016]

I don't claim to be an authority on horses, but what little I do know kind of downplays any enthusiasm for this film.

Adolescent Sarah Bolen is sent to live in rural Michigan with her father Kevin Sorbo for the summer and she's not seen much of him over the years so she's disappointed. Her mother keeps her in a lifestyle that's extravagant for them, she has a show horse that she's training for competition. Sorbo's farm out there might be a good training ground for her and the horse.

But she develops an enthusiasm for rodeo when she arrives no doubt fueled by a young rodeo cowboy Derek Brandon who works for Sorbo. I won't say any more.

But for the life of me I can't see how a horse bred for shows could be turned into a horse used for barrel racing in a rodeo. Just not done and I think the film will be justly criticized for it. Like trying to train a thoroughbred race horse all of a sudden into a horse for harness racing. The smartest of horses, Mr. Ed in fact just wouldn't take to it though Mr. Ed could articulate why from his point of view.

Nice family film otherwise, but the horse changing his training is too big to overlook.

Watchable for the right audience

[infoalwaysacritic · 5/10 · 28 October 2021]

As far as fantasy horse flicks for girls go, there are plenty of films to choose from. Some are abismally bad, others had potential and lost it. But to find a clean film for a young audience set to a backdrop of horses, the best options are in short supply, and this one is on the line for watchable.

First some of the bad: The cinematography, from a technical standpoint, was sorely lacking. Some scenes suffered from poor lighting, others had blown out highlight or had contrast and colour settings that distracted from the story - which was so so. But there are some good things.

In spite of these challenges, Kevin Sorbo deserves recognition for delivering a good performance. There are plenty of shots of competition riding in rodeo, and this also plays to the audience intended.

There are better films, of course, and more accurate films for those educated in equine practices, but if you've seen those big blockbusters, this is a watchable option for an evening with young daughters.

Poor acting and research fail the plot line

[meetmyentries · 2/10 · 28 July 2016]

Very poor research into the world of youth rodeo and horses in general. In a world where Fallon Taylor is promoting helmet safety in barrels and riding in NFR promoting safety should be a priority. Also a girl from a hunter jumper world would be more likely to wear a helmet. All the sabotage would not be tolerated and is not tolerated in any junior rodeos. A sheriff would be called and a report made and probably an arrest. Ranch kids might play around but would never try to run down a horse and rider intentionally. My kids compete in junior rodeos and have been for years so I do have a basis in my review. If any kids where to act as maliciously as those portrayed here they would not be competing anywhere. Very disappointing movie overall.

Mediocre

[wchday · 4/10 · 9 June 2020]

Anyone else notice she rode a different horse to win the finals.

The acting isn't the best.

From Horse Riding to Rodeo

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 8 August 2022]

In New England, the spoiled Priscilla (Sophie Bolen) loves horse riding and lives with her mother Abigail (Janet Caine). When Abigail decides to travel with her wealthy boyfriend, he gives the US$ 75,000 horse Lassie to Priscilla and she sends her daughter and Lassie to stay with her estranged father Duke Williams (Kevin Sorbo) in his ranch in Michigan. The snobbish Priscilla does not treat her father well, but soon she befriends his friend Laura Mae (Sherryl Despres) and his employee Sage (Derek Brandon). When they go to a rodeo, Priscilla decides to train to dispute barrel racing and Sage teaches her. Meanwhile, the wealthy farmer Carl Davenport (Mark Boyd) wants to buy Duke's land and his reckless son harasses Priscilla that is improving in the rodeo competition. When Abigail arrives in the ranch, Duke and Priscilla learn that her boyfriend was a con-artist and she does not have money to pay the price of Lassie, and will have to resell the horse. Priscilla vanishes and Duke has to take an attitude.

"Rodeo Girl" is a good family entertainment film, with the story of a spoiled girl that loves horse riding and has to stay with her estranged father that she has never met before. Priscilla's character is a typical 14-year-old unpleasant spoiled teenager, and the story should have included something that real hurts to change her behavior and attitude. The scene where the teenager drugs the horse should have had consequences for him. But anyway, the story is light and nice to see with the family. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Tempo de Mudanças" ("Time of Changing")

Good family show - bad research

[katdavidson459 · 8/10 · 6 July 2016]

I have to sort of disagree with one of the reviews that a horse can't "change it's training". There have been many that changed their careers. However, I don't think this horse would be one of those. There is just too much information and access to real barrel racers that could have made the show much more realistic. First of all, a barrel race is just that - a race - not a trot and lope around the barrels! While they did try to get a lot of the lingo correct, they could have done better. There was just so much potential with this show, but it fell way short. Still a good, clean family film that to the non horseman or non barrel racer would be quite entertaining.

Enjoyable

[photoweborama · 9/10 · 13 January 2019]

Although others have pointed out the improbabilities of the film, they aren't any worse than other films like Days of Thunder, etc....

With that said, the storyline was enjoyable, and the entire film was a great diversion. It's worth watching!

Why I liked they show

[klgazelle · 10/10 · 16 January 2017]

I Really Really Loved this show and being the Barrel Racer I am, I just love to see these shows Especially if it's winter out and all my shows are done this shows just make me feel alive and they always get me ready for more racing!! All in all I would say Its a great show for any horse person, someone wanting to do barrel's, and or "Normal" people wanting to see what "Horse" people do....Now English Riders Are not that stuck up yes there can be a hand full that are rude and stuck up but there are a hand full of barrel racers like that to... almost anyone is like this because they think they are better than everyone... This show is trying to get the point a crossed that no one is better than someone else and we should all see what others do before we judge them... you never know you maybe BEST FRIENDS some day or LIKE the SPORT that the play. Just take step back and watch....listen.... and learn

Best Movie I have ever had the honor of viewing.

[samiscig · 10/10 · 20 November 2018]

I am a very famous movie critic, and might I say, this movie is truly PERFECT. If you look closely, you can see it is taken in Indiana, which is my home state, and the best location EVER :D I was born before time and space and let me tell you, this movie makes me cry every time I watch it, especially when I see my daughter and her wonderful acting was in it! Overall, I think it needs 3 Grammies and an Oscar nomination, 12/10 would recommend to anyone with taste because of the acting and how accurate it is. The horses too this day, I still think that they were so accurately portrayed and also had the best acting. To this day, I'm still waiting for its sequel. Thank you Lucas Miles :D

Boring and terrible

[parkerabbitt · 25 August 2018]

This movie had a very bad story line with even worse acting. I was terribly bored and annoyed with the sassy teenagers but the inaccurate horsemanship and knowledge entertained me enough to watch about 45 minutes of it. Absolutely terrible acting and story line, and not good for kids because the message was that's it's ok to be a spoiled brat and sass your parents and other people for no reason.