A Cowgirl's Story

This movie get high marks for neatness as every plot twist and conflict is tied neatly in a ridiculously perfect bow in a manner that bears absolutely no resemblance to reality. The necessity for belief in a Christian God is heavily touted here and miracles abound. Dusty's trusty horse dies and another almost magically replaces it, no visible money changing hands. A high school refuses to sponsor an equestrian team and, lickety-split, the tenacious Dusty raises the thousands necessary to supply horses, feed, and training so teammates who have never ridden before can perform flawlessly in what seems to be only minutes later. A thief admits his thievery and returns the valuable item he's taken. A cruel and dismissive mother becomes supportive and loving. A racist apologizes to the Muslim he's been bullying. A wounded soldier returns home to the daughter he left behind, battered but fine. Dusty's helicopter pilot mom goes down in a crash but miraculously makes it home unscathed. All the while, Grandpa, a military chaplain, advises that God will take care of everything if skeptic Dusty can only have faith, and not halfway kind of faith, but all-the-way kind of faith.

For this reason, A Cowgirl's Story is best appreciated by those who share the religious views the movie highlights. The themes may be a little heavy for sensitive kids, as well.