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Parents' Guide to

Horse Sense

By Kat Halstead, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Heartfelt family drama is inoffensive but predictable.

Movie NR 1999 92 minutes
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Played by real-life brothers, the chemistry between on-screen cousins Michael and Tommy is strong, even when fighting, and Walters is fittingly wholesome as Tommy's proud but struggling mother. The Montana backdrops are spectacular, extending for miles, with wild horses galloping and sunsets descending, making it difficult to see how Michael could fail to be hypnotized.



The plot itself is generic and predictable, but is handled with a sureness and charm that makes for a pleasant and heartwarming watch. Though it is Michael who undertakes the major change in the story, Tommy's character also has an arc in learning to deal with the loss of his father. The scope of the two characters mean younger children and teens should be able to relate to both in different ways. The movie doesn't bring much originality to a well-trodden trope, but it does paint it beautifully and with an honesty that makes for a tender drama the whole family can enjoy.

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