Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tame but boring horse drama sequel has some taunting.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hope's Legacy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
HOPE'S LEGACY is a sequel to Christmas Ranch set years after troubled teen Liz (Taylor Lyons) was sent to her grandmother's horse ranch to shape up. Grandma has passed and she's left the ranch to Liz, who decides to live on it and train another jumper to compete and earn money. James (Allen Williamson), the neighbor who always liked her, is thrilled to have her back, and soon the two are engaged, although both sets of parents strongly object. Linda (Dyan Cannon), an experienced horsewoman, comes for Grandma's funeral and stays to help Liz train for competition. A fellow competitor challenges Liz; will Liz have the confidence to stand up for herself?
Is It Any Good?
Hope's Legacy is 103 minutes long, but feels much longer. This mindbogglingly boring family drama is a stunning mix of baseless and repetitive script contrivances that weakly substitute for drama, with clueless direction and incompetent acting. Dyan Cannon seems to know what she's doing, but she struggles to make herself look human while uttering the script's mechanical and lifeless dialogue. The plot could have been boiled down to provide the basis -- with different director, writer, and actors -- for a decent 30-minute after-school special. At least young horse lovers will be happy to gaze at the pretty horses.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what's the best mindset for competing in a sport. Do you agree with Linda's advice that Liz needs to focus and stop letting extraneous issues distract her? Why or why not?
What's the appeal of horse movies? What's your favorite horse tale, and why?
Did you see Christmas Ranch? If so, how does this sequel compare? If not, do you want to watch it now?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 5, 2021
- Cast : Taylor Lyons , Allan Williamson , Dyan Cannon , Abigail Reed
- Director : Douglas B. Maddox
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vision
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 3, 2021
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