Heart of a Champion
Wholesome family drama about a teen and her horse.
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Heart of a Champion
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Heart of a Champion is a drama about a teen named Charlie (YaYa Gosselin) who's dealing with a new school, her parents' divorce, and finding friendship and purpose with her horse. Content is largely family-friendly, with teens demonstrating courage and respect. That said, characters do tell lies, and there's a girl at school who goes out of her way to be mean to Charlie. The school principal doesn't seem to be on the students' side, and Charlie's best friend's actions can make it feel like he's a savior to a damsel in distress. Two adults drink a beer in one scene. In another, two men argue and yell at each other, with one slamming his fist down on a table in anger. Charlie is briefly lost in the woods, and her horse is slightly injured. Language includes words like "hell" and "damn." On the romance front, two characters hug, and adults share a passionate kiss.
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What's the Story?
HEART OF A CHAMPION centers on Charlie (YaYa Gosselin), a teen who's dealing with her parents' divorce and settling into a new high school. Charlie spends lots of time daydreaming about riding horses, so when her father, Troy (Edward Furlong), tells his best friend, Clint (Casper Van Dien), that he would get her anything, Charlie asks for a horse. But on their way to buy one, Charlie and Clint find a horse on the side of the road. They can't track down the owner, so they take the horse back to the ranch while they figure out what to do next. Charlie starts to bond with the horse while she learns to ride. After her friend Zach (Carson Cunningham) suggests that she enter the rodeo doing barrel racing, Charlie learns more about the sport and is eager to enter the competition. Then Charlie gets lost and Chango, her horse, is slightly injured. That upsets her mom, who thinks the horse needs to go and wants Charlie to give up riding. And after Charlie gets accused of cheating and suspended from school, it seems like her dreams are over. Can the situation be fixed in time to convince her mom to let her compete?
Is It Any Good?
This drama is wholesome but a bit lackluster, with a story that verges on predictable and contrived. Some of the acting feels a bit stiff, too: The film only scratches the surface on the characters, and while there's opportunity in certain situations to have empathy for what the characters are going through, the problems resolve almost too quickly. Still, the film is enjoyable and can be viewed by kids of almost all ages -- and will be an especial hit with animal lovers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Heart of a Champion addresses divorce. Can you think of other movies that have dealt with that topic?
In one scene, Clint tells Zach that a man's word is his bond. What does that mean? Is it OK to tell a lie if you think you're helping out a friend?
Was there ever a time when you were accused of something you didn't do? What happened? Did your family and/or friends believe and support you?
How does Charlie demonstrate courage? Why is that an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 17, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: February 21, 2023
- Cast: Casper Van Dien, Yaya Gosselin, Edward Furlong, Jojo Marie
- Director: Brad Keller
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship, High School, Horses and Farm Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild language
- Last updated: February 25, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
Sweet horse movie that grade-school kids will enjoy.
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Black Beauty (2020)
Peril, emotional intensity in adaptation of classic tale.
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Rodeo Girl
Low-budget, predictable tale of teen girl and her horse.
For kids who love horses
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