Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Modern-day Western for the whole family; some mild violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Horse Crazy
What's the Story?
Just before Christmas vacation, Tyler (Michael Glauser) sees a movie in school about wild horses in Nevada. Being HORSE CRAZY, he concocts a scheme to hide in the back of his older brother's truck when he goes to Nevada to visit his girlfriend. Tyler brings along his new friend Stoney (Jonathan Cronin) -- a new kid in school who claims to be a cowboy, and Tyler's sister Sam (Brittany Armstrong) also comes along for the ride. When Brad has car trouble, he finds the kids hiding in the back, and meets a local cowboy and his daughter who are bringing home their prize-winning horse. When bumbling horse thieves (Dallin Christensen and Scott Subiono) try to steal this horse, everyone must figure out a way to work together and recapture the horse.
Is It Any Good?
If your love of horses and the open spaces of the West is greater than your dislike of bad acting and predictable storylines, Horse Crazy should prove to be generally safe family fare. While there's only one horse in the film, regardless, young kids caught up in their own bouts of horse craziness should enjoy the mischievous adventures these kids undertake.
The vast lands where this is filmed (Arizona actually, and not Nevada) is quite beautiful, and comes very close to helping the audience forget the awkwardness of the acting. Nonetheless, it is a fun movie if you're looking for a Western that's appropriate for all-ages and manages to be exciting enough without being too violent.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about honesty and indentity. Why would Stoney pretend to be something he's not during his first day in a new school? Has there ever been a time when you or someone you has pretended to be someone they're not? Why is it better to be yourself? Where is it safe to try on new identities?
How easy or difficult do you think it would be to catch a wild horse with little or no training? How accurately does this film reflect the culture of the open spaces of the West these days?
What is the appeal of the Western-style movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2006
- Cast : Dallin Christensen , Marvin Payne , Scott Subiono
- Director : Eric Hendershot
- Studio : Allumination
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Animals
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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